Award ceremony: Khitam al-Hissi is a laureate of UNESCO ISF "WORLD TALES"

"A nice day was spent today with representatives of UNESCO"

This is what Mahmoud, librarian of IBBY Library in all Shawka – Gaza wrote.

Giovanni SCEPI  Head of the Culture Unit at UNESCO Palestine, and Youssef Al-Ejla, Head of UNESCO Office in Gaza, came yesterday to give Khitam al-Hissi the laureate in UNESCO ISF "WORLD TALES" her Award.

The visit also aimed to learn about the library's activities, many children recited poetry they wrote or by Palestinian poets. An interesting discussion took place between them and the delegation about the library's various activities, including writing, drawing, drama, and others.

Mahmoud the librarian, spoke about the nature of al Shawka Area and about the importance of the library, being the only one in the area. The children consider it as their second home. Abla the librarian of Al-Ata’a, spoke about the beginnings of the library’s existence in the Beit Hanoun area and its importance for children. The two speakers stressed the importance of the presence of the International Board on Books for Young People in these areas, and the new vital life that the two libraries gave to children.

Before the award was handed over, Khitam spoke about her childhood and how she joined the library when she was five years old. She narrated her story and explained what motivated her to write it. Khitam concluded by passionately expressing her desire to become a successful and well-known writer.

English translation of her story: 

Khitam on her childhood, love of writing and joy with the Award

I am the child Khitam Muhammad al-Hissi, a girl from Al-Shawka area, and South of Rafah city in the Gaza Strip. Since I was young, I have gone to the library with my sister, Marah. I was five years old when I first visited the library, when I saw this world I loved it and considered it to be my second home. I loved it very much. I grew in the spirit of culture and writing. I loved to try writing, so I wrote a lot. I did not stop at any attempt. I insisted on continuing to write and strengthen my writing. 

I am an ambitious child. I love to try and keep trying to reach what I want and to be a writer. When they told me about my success, I was very happy. It was a beautiful joy. The world did not contain me my joy; I could not give my joy to anyone. It was joy inside my heart. The whole world could not contain the joy in my heart. When I received the financial award from IBBY Palestine, my joy grew bigger and bigger as I saw everyone interested in me and encouraging me to be one of the successful.

When they told me about the visit of the UNESCO delegation, this was the greatest joy. I felt that the whole world was before me, and in my heart and mind, and this interest encouraged me more and more to write and to continue insisting on creativity and progress in order to be a writer of short stories and novels and a famous writer in the near future.

I extend my thanks and attribute this success to the professional Jehan Helou, who is the one who sent my story and message of participation in this competition and to send my voice to the world.