twofour54 and “Wanna Read?” reunite efforts with new volunteer programme
22 Nov 2016
twofour54 and “Wanna Read?”, an initiative established in 2013 by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, have launched a volunteer programme that offers twofour54 employees the opportunity to volunteer with “Wanna Read?” at Mafraq Hospital.
The programme comes as part of an agreement between twofour54 and “Wanna Read?” and supports twofour54’s community initiative, #United4UAE. “Wanna Read?” aims to encourage reading and foster wellbeing by creating warm, friendly and stimulating areas in paediatric wards, filled with an abundance of books, to help children through their healing and rehabilitation.
Sheikha Shamma stated: “It is wonderful to return to the first “Wanna Read?” room opened in 2013 here at Mafraq Hospital. I am truly happy the room has given so much joy to many young patients. As we now implement our volunteer programme at Mafraq Hospital, with the capable hands of twofour54 at the helm, we are sure the initiative will go from strength to strength, bringing our vision of ‘healing through reading’ to many more young patients.”
Acting CEO of twofour54, Maryam Al Mheiri, said: “We are proud to have joined forces with Mafraq Hospital and “Wanna Read?” to combine two great causes in one: promoting the Year of Reading and supporting the overall healing process of hospitalised children. We all share the goal of nurturing young people through different avenues and we are honoured to have collaborated with “Wanna Read?” as part of our very own #United4UAE initiative to give back to the community.”
“Through #United4UAE, we have organised a book drive that has resulted in collecting more than 700 books and we are pleased to be donating books to “Wanna Read?” in support of the life-changing impact it has on young children,” She concluded.
Division Chief of Neonatology at Mafraq Hospital, Dr. Laila Obaid, said: “The Mafraq paediatric team and families of hospitalised children are very happy to have a wonderful reading room organised by “Wanna Read?” at our paediatric ward. Reading supports the educational development of young patients, creates a fun environment during their hospital stay and encourages healing as a result.” Dr. Laila added, “twofour54 volunteers will add more value to this initiative by helping young patients read and enjoy the magic effect of books. We hope this will help them relax and forget about their illness for a while”.
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