Qatar National Library, Wifaq celebrate family storytelling heritage
To celebrate the enduring power of family narratives, the Qatar National Library (QNL), in collaboration with the Family Consulting Centre (Wifaq), hosted the "A Story from a Loved One: Family Cohesi...
On Thursday, the Qatar National Library (QNL) and the Family Consulting Centre (Wifaq) united to celebrate the significance of family storytelling at an event titled "A Story from a Loved One: Family Cohesion and Storytelling Heritage." The gathering emphasized how sharing stories connects generations, reinforcing emotional ties, fostering shared values, and safeguarding cultural heritage.
The event commenced with a panel discussion featuring specialists who delved into the influence of storytelling on family relationships. A central highlight was the introduction of the book "Qissa Min Ghali" (*A Story from a Loved One), which serves as a model for documenting human experiences and transmitting essential social and familial values.
The panelists underscored the critical importance of preserving family memories for future generations and highlighted the crucial role of cultural and community organizations in promoting and protecting this heritage. Noted author Issa Abdullah spoke about how family tales convey values and foster intergenerational connections.
Wifaq's community awareness director, Lolwa al-Yazeedi, emphasized the human messages in the newly released book and the role of authentic stories in sparking family conversations. Dr Sharifa Noaman al-Emadi, the Executive Director of the Doha International Family Institute (Difi), discussed methods to safeguard family folktales for the next generation.
Al-Yazeedi concluded the panel, stating that Wifaq believes that family unity is built upon the minutiae of everyday life. The stories handed down through generations provide a vital platform for dialogue, embedding values, recollections, and shared experiences that nurture a profound sense of belonging. Al-Yazeedi also noted that this endeavor stresses the necessity of engaging young people in preserving their family's heritage—transforming spoken memories into a lasting written legacy that unites generations.
QNL's Manager of Programs and Services for Children and Young Adults, Maram al-Mahmoud, added that every family possesses its own archive of stories that form our identities and what matters to us, even before they are documented. She highlighted the partnership with Wifaq to remind families that the everyday narratives they share are integral to the nation's heritage as much as the books on their shelves.
The event concluded with the official launch of "Qissa Min Ghali," a collection of stories penned by children and young adults aged 12-14, based on the oral histories and tales shared by their parents and grandparents. This launch was followed by interactive activities for children and parents, including storytelling, drawing, competitions, and coloring sessions inspired by the book's illustrations.
The day also inaugurated a four-week program at the library, featuring weekly "Storytime" sessions where the young authors of "Qissa Min Ghali" will read their stories to children, fostering dialogue about the stories, artistic expression, and providing photo opportunities for the young writers. The gathering was attended by representatives from various national institutions and community centers, underscoring a nationwide dedication to family unity.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
