Arab Reading Challenge (ARC) participants were honoured at a ceremony held under the patronage of the General Director of Education at the Ministry of Education and Higher Learning Minister His Excellency Fadi Yarak and His Excellency Hamad Saeed Sultan Al Shamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Lebanon, at the Unesco Palace.

The Lebanon ARC champion Nour Tabboh, who is in the 12th grade at Rawdat Al Fayhaa School in Tripoli, was honoured at the ceremony, along with the winner of the distinguished supervisor award Hanadi Hateit and Rawdat Al Fayhaa School, the winner of the best school award for the state.

ARC Secretary General Najla Al Shamsi said, “Lebanon has always been a cultural and scientific hub for the Arab region, and we are happy to see that tradition continue as Lebanese students across the country achieved high feats in the competition. The second round of the Arab Reading Challenge has been a reminder, once again, of how all Arabs can work together toward a future where we are armed with knowledge, as envisioned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”

All ten student finalists were also honoured at the ceremony, respectively; Maryam Yousif Al-Sayyid (11th grade at Imam Al-Kadhim Ali Al-Nahari Secondary School), Maryam Al-Ahdab (5th grade at Rawdat Al Fayhaa School), Yousif Ali Al-Kamouni (3rd grade at Al-Shifa School), Amjad Mohammed Al-Ghamian (10th grade at Jamil Al Rawas Secondary School for Boys), Nour Al-Termus (11th grade at Mehdi Shahid School), Fatima Khadr Al-Zain (12th grade at the Pheonix International School), Remi Rabie Mesbah Fakhoury (3rd grade at Ali Bin Abi Taleb School), Marwa Muqaddam (10th grade at Al-Iman Al-Islami Seconday School), and Eva Rabie Hamad (12th grade at Al-Safir School).

Over 13,925 students from various grades made it to the second phase of the Arab Reading Challenge. Ninety-three students made it to the final round before one was selected, along with nine supervisors and two schools.

The Arab Reading Challenge was launched by UAE Prime Minister and Vice President and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in September 2015. It represents the largest pan-Arab reading project, and aims to promote a sustainable model for reading through an integrated system of student-supervisor follow-ups and support, as well as monetary incentives for students, supervisors and schools across the Arab World. The project hopes to instigate a cultural renaissance in the Arab World by encouraging students to read and continuously expand their knowledge.