The story workshops organised by Khotoat volunteers help children preserve their mother tongue, Arabic, and develop their language skills. They also give children an opportunity to learn more about their cultural roots.
The workshops also improve children's listening skills. Many children find it difficult to concentrate for long periods and quickly lose interest. This is where stories can help. Listening to stories strengthens concentration and comprehension, stimulates the imagination, and encourages creativity and original thinking.
Organised by Khotoat and led by writers or people interested in children's literature, these workshops are particularly valuable for Arab children growing up outside their countries of origin.
Hani Shuwaikh, a writer and volunteer, shares his experience of organising story workshops with children:
"For Arab children growing up abroad, opportunities to speak Arabic are often limited to conversations at home or with friends and acquaintances from the Arab community. They may also attend occasional religious lessons.
As a result, Modern Standard Arabic can sometimes feel like a dry, formal language that is unfamiliar to them.
These workshops play an important role in bringing the language closer to children and helping them develop an affection for it. Through engaging stories, children can discover a lively and enjoyable connection to Arabic."
