At just 17 years old, Ahmed Al Kawkabani joined other authors in the signing corner of the Sharjah International Book Fair, where he had a line of fans waiting to sign his own book, The power of reading. The young author had already obtained second place as community champion in the 8th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge.

For the Yemeni author, who resides in Malaysia, his reading journey began at the age of six when he discovered the joy of reading while memorizing the Quran. He recalls: “My passion for reading was ignited when I first opened the pages of the Quran. It opened up a world of stories and knowledge for me. After memorizing the Quran, he began exploring novels and poetry, stating: “I found that literature deepened my love for language and broadened my imagination. »

His dedication led him to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge for the first time in its sixth season. Ahmed looks back on this experience: “Participating in the challenge was a turning point for me. It inspired me to explore new books and share my love of reading with others. This challenge opened his eyes to the vast world of literature. “I discovered authors who inspired me to think differently,” he added.

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His perseverance paid off in the eighth edition of the challenge when he secured first place at the Malaysian level, winning the title of Malaysian champion in the Arab Reading Challenge, while also representing Malaysia and securing second place in the Community Champion category. “Winning these titles showed me that hard work and passion can lead to great achievements,” he said. Khaleej Times.

Throughout his journey, Ahmed often reflects on a mantra dear to him: “Reading heals the soul if it turns away; it heals the mind if it is shrouded in sadness. This belief fueled his commitment to reading and writing. Inspired by the Arab Reading Challenge, he began to explore his talent as a writer and realized: “I wanted to share the richness of the Arabic language and its cultural significance with a wider audience. »

This realization sparked the creation of his first book, The power of readingwhich he conceptualized during the seventh season of The Challenge. He describes the writing process as intense but rewarding: “I wrote down my ideas in a notebook and didn’t wait for the perfect moment to start. There were days when I felt stuck, but I remembered the importance of sharing my message. It kept me going. » After five months of hard work, he completed the first draft.

Waad Barakat

Waad Barakat is a special correspondent who covers security topics from law enforcement to local courts. With a keen eye for human interest stories, she hopes to mix it all up with unique Gen Z-inspired content.