The ‘Read, Dream, Create’ campaign, an initiative of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), has announced the highly anticipated results of its creative writing competition, during its participation at the 10^th edition of Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF).

Launched during the campaign’s participation in the 9^th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) in April, the contest aimed to nurture the talents of children aged 6-12 years and young people aged 12-18 years, encouraging them to express their ideas and thoughts through innovative and unique stories.

Maryam Al Ali, aged 17 years, ranked first for ‘The Black Copybook’, and received AED 5,000. She will be given the opportunity to meet an established author to further hone her skills, as well as attend workshops organised by the UAEBBY.

Aged 14 years, Nojoud Ali Al Biddawi came second for her story ‘Doctor after Unrest’, and won AED 3,000, while Haneen Ahmad Al Motwalli, aged 10 years, ranked third for ‘The Annoying Raven’ and received AED 1,000. Apart from the cash prizes, the three winners will be provided with a collection of books and will have their stories published on the campaign’s website.

Meera Al Naqbi, Manager of Read, Dream, Create, said: “Through this competition, we have opened a window for children and young adults to discover and develop their creative writing talents, and by using new and inspiring techniques make them even more compelling. The three winners showed an innate sense of storytelling and a deep knowledge of the story’s fundamental components of concepts, characters, time, place and plot.”