Rich Dialogues and Workshops Mark the Conclusion of Ithra’s “Iqra Enrichment Camp” for Children

Dhahran – July 29, 2025 | BETH

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) concluded the “Iqra Enrichment Camp” for children, with the participation of 20 students from six Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Tunisia, and Syria.
Held over seven days at the Center’s headquarters in Dhahran, the camp is one of the key phases of the 10th edition of the Iqra Reading Competition, bringing together the top young readers from the Arab world for one week (elementary and middle school category), followed by a two-week program for high school and university levels.

✍️ Enhancing Writing and Critical Thinking Skills

Among the camp’s core components was the “Writing Lab” workshop, led by coach Ahmed Al-Asilan, focusing on:

Developing expressive and creative writing.

Story structure exploration.

Vocabulary expansion and confidence building.

Through group discussions and writing exercises, participants learned how to articulate their thoughts clearly, critique texts effectively, and analyze books with depth.

🗣️ Debate, Argumentation & Confidence Building

The “Iqra Debate” session, facilitated by coach Farah Al-Harbi, introduced students to:

The fundamentals of persuasive argumentation.

Respectful engagement with opposing views.

Public speaking techniques.

Interactive debates and evidence-based thinking exercises helped even the most reserved students find their voice and express their opinions confidently within a supportive environment.

🎨 Creative & Collaborative Activities

To balance the intellectual stimulation of the workshops, students engaged in various creative and extracurricular activities, including:

An art session at Ithra, where they expressed themselves through drawing.

A session with Jekar Khorshid, who took them through the life cycle of a book, from manuscript to shelf, offering insights into the unseen world of publishing.

The experience also included a guided tour of Ithra Library, showcasing the behind-the-scenes world of knowledge preservation, indexing, and curation.

🎬 Film Experience and Storytelling with Mitha Al-Khayat

In another corner of the camp:

Students enjoyed a film screening, followed by a reflective discussion led by Tariq Al-Khawaji, Cultural Advisor at Ithra.

A hands-on workshop was led by Emirati author and illustrator Mitha Al-Khayat, blending creative writing and visual storytelling. Through drawing prompts and narrative challenges, she encouraged children to think outside the box and explore their unique creative abilities through words and images.

✨ Impact & Deeper Learning

The Iqra Enrichment Camp embodies Ithra’s mission to instill a love for knowledge at a young age, nurturing skills in reading, critical thinking, creative expression, and dialogue — all within a holistic experience that balances intellectual growth with creative empowerment.