meeting and sets strategic roadmap for 2026
Sharjah, 15 December 2025,
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat
Foundation, chaired the Foundation’s Board of Trustees meeting, where members reviewed the
organisation’s 2025 achievements and discussed its strategic vision for 2026. The meeting
reaffirmed the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to empowering children with knowledge
and safeguarding their right to access books and reading worldwide.
In 2025, Kalimat Foundation expanded the scope of its flagship “Pledge a Library” initiative to
reach children in some of the world’s most underserved communities. The Foundation donated
4,600 Arabic-language books across 46 portable libraries operating in 42 locations in eight
countries—Brazil, Comoros, Morocco, Greece, the United Kingdom, Uganda, and
Portugal—reflecting a deepening commitment to equitable access to knowledge.
A sustainable model of empowerment
During the meeting, Her Highness emphasised that accessible publishing remains a
cornerstone of the Foundation’s mission. She described it as a sustainable model of
empowerment rather than a temporary intervention, stating that investment in knowledge is one
of the most profound and lasting forms of support in the lives of children and their communities.
Her Highness added: “Accessible publishing reimagines the child’s relationship with reading,
education and life. It opens doors to self-discovery and understanding of the world, while
nurturing autonomy and the ability to make informed choices.”
Her Highness stressed that Kalimat Foundation continues to evolve its programmes and tools to
empower children intellectually, noting that access to knowledge enables them to protect their
rights, contribute to community development, and respond thoughtfully to the challenges of their
time.
Advancing inclusive publishing and knowledge equity
The Board reviewed major achievements in 2025, including a collaboration with Canon to
launch an innovative experience enabling people with visual impairments to “feel images,” along
with the roll-out of the first phase of inclusive accessible books; marking a milestone in the
advancement of knowledge equity.
Other achievements included participation in regional workshops in Tunisia organised by the
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and joint initiatives with Noor Dubai
Foundation in educational and humanitarian programming.
Supporting vulnerable children and linking philanthropy to creative industries
Under “Pledge a Library,” the Foundation deepened its humanitarian presence by supporting
Arab children in hospitals and treatment centres, Palestinian children through Emirates
Humanitarian City, and underprivileged students in charity schools across the UAE. The
Foundation also restored a library in Ifrane, Morocco, and launched a product line with French-
Tunisian artist El Seed, reinforcing the initiative’s sustainability and building meaningful links
with the creative economy.
Inclusive literacy through the “Ara” (I See) initiative
In 2025, the Foundation organised reading workshops and specialised training courses for blind
and visually impaired children under the “Ara” initiative, aimed at advancing their reading and
writing skills. The initiative provides a wide range of publications in formats including braille,
large print, audiobooks, and accessible EPUB3 books, ensuring equitable access to knowledge
and cultural content.
Strategic vision for 2026: scale, inclusion, and innovation
The Board discussed Kalimat Foundation’s vision for 2026, centred on expanding accessible
publishing, developing more inclusive content, and strengthening local, regional, and
international partnerships to reach children in diverse environments.
The strategy further prioritises empowering families and fostering a culture of reading through
community programmes, advancing innovation and sustainability in cultural philanthropy,
expanding specialised research initiatives, and reinforcing the Foundation’s international
standing. Together, these priorities reinforce Kalimat Foundation’s role in shaping a more
equitable, inclusive, and future-ready reading ecosystem.
Leadership of the Board of Trustees
The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Vice
Chairperson; His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Treasurer; Her
Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan; Her Excellency Noura bint
Mohammed Al Kaabi, Secretary General; Her Excellency Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi; His
Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri; Ms. Ahlam Bolooki; and Mr. Fuad Mansoor
Sharaf, members of the Kalimat Foundation Board of Trustees.
This meeting underscored the Board’s pivotal role in steering the Foundation’s strategic
direction, ensuring the sustainability of its humanitarian and cultural impact, and enhancing its
position as a leading global institution empowering children through knowledge.
