'Social media has invaded minds'

Youth-led reading festival in Al-Mansuriyah promotes literacy and supports women’s small businesses

2024-09-17 | 16:51

DIYALA — A group of young people in Al-Mansuriyah district, Diyala, organized a reading festival to encourage residents to read books rather than becoming overly engrossed in the content available online. As part of the event, books were distributed for free.

The festival also featured displays of small business products created by widows and divorced women, including pastries, home knitting, and sewing.

Arkan Hassan Abdullah, the district official of Al-Mansuriyah, praised the initiative, stating, “A group of Al-Mansuriyah’s youth organized a festival that brought smiles and hope to our community.” He urged government agencies to support such events, which, he said, reflect the city’s current state of security and stability.

Ahmed Al-Qurghuli, a representative of “Al-Mansuriyah Team 15” organization, noted that the festival was a self-initiated effort by the team. “We have some support from government institutions. Festivals like these add a lot to Al-Mansuriyah and its youth, especially as we need a cultural revival after social media has invaded minds, leading to a decline in reading books,” he explained.

Civil activist Mohammed Haider emphasized that the goal of the festival was to promote culture and encourage young people to read paper books, which he described as essential for personal development. “We distribute books here for free to motivate youth to read in all its forms, as reading is both a discovery and a mental experience,” he added.

Shaimaa Mohammed, a resident of Al-Mansuriyah, highlighted that the festival included a book exhibition and a bazaar to support youth projects, particularly those led by women involved in home-based businesses such as food, pastries, knitting, and sewing. She noted the focus on supporting widows and divorced women, stating, “We are committed to helping this group of hardworking individuals.”