{
  "id": 6295855,
  "title": "How Sharjah’s House of Wisdom is helping children turn curiosity into a lifelong love of learning",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/how-sharjahs-house-of-wisdom-is-helping-children-turn-curiosity-into",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T15:32:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/education/how-sharjahs-house-of-wisdom-is-helping-children-turn-curiosity-into-a-lifelong-love-of-learning-1.500667547"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a nation where 93% of youth and 88% of adults demonstrate literacy skills, the House of Wisdom (HoW) in Sharjah recognizes the importance of fostering a lifelong love for learning. For children, this journey often begins with the stories they read and the ideas they encounter. HoW provides various resources to bolster reading skills, encourage exploration of new interests, and build confidence in finding and engaging with information independently.\n\nBoasting over 305,000 books, including 105,000 printed titles and millions of digital options, HoW offers an extensive selection to cater to diverse interests and languages. Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, emphasizes that literacy extends beyond mere reading comprehension, encompassing the ability to assess information and apply it effectively. The organization's commitment to nurturing curiosity underpins its mission to provide resources and experiences that inspire learners at every stage of their lives.\n\nAs readers advance, their inquiries become more intricate, and HoW's comprehensive collection of books, journals, and academic research supports students, researchers, and enthusiasts across various subjects and perspectives. To accommodate evolving reading habits, HoW offers multiple formats, including audiobooks accessible through the Libby app, and international news via Press Reader. This flexibility allows individuals to engage with knowledge in the manner that best suits their preferences.\n\nIn addition to its vast collection, HoW organizes book clubs, workshops, language courses, and other programs to foster a sense of community among readers and learners. The HoW Book Club, for instance, offers a platform for participants to engage in discussions, exchange viewpoints, and deepen their understanding of the material they explore.\n\nBeyond its literary offerings, HoW's Al Jazri FabLab embodies the organization's dedication to translating knowledge into practical applications. Equipped with cutting-edge tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics kits, and AI workstations, the makerspace enables students and young inventors to experiment, design, and create. From the initial fascination sparked by a child's first story to the sophisticated academic research, global media consumption, collaborative dialogue, and hands-on creation, literacy can manifest in myriad ways throughout one's life. While the tools and formats may evolve, the underlying desire to read, comprehend, question, and continue discovering remains constant.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Sixty years after UNESCO first proclaimed International Literacy Day, the meaning of literacy continues to evolve. Reading remains the foundation, but literacy today also means knowing how to find information, assess it and put it to use. Global literacy now stands at 93% among young people and 88% among adults, according to UNESCO. Yet 739 million youth and adults worldwide still lack…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}