RONÎDA HACÎ

Hasakah- The Intellectual Union decided to open reading gardens at its 5th Conference. The first reading garden was opened in Qamishlo on February 1, 2019. The second reading garden was opened in the Til Hecer neighborhood of Hasakah on November 2, 2021. There is a big library in the gardens allowing children to enjoy thousands of books. NuJINHA spoke to Kewser Mardînî, member of the Intellectual Union of Cizre Region about the aims of the reading gardens.

 ‘The aim is to promote reading culture in society’

Kewser Mardînî told us the main aim of the reading gardens was to promote a reading culture in society. “We decided to open reading gardens in order to spread the reading culture in society, especially among children and young people. The first reading garden was opened in Qamishlo. There was a great interest in the reading garden. Then, we opened another in Hasakah and now we aim to open a reading garden in every city. Reading is a universal need because when people read, they get to know themselves, their history and they solve problems easier. For this reason, we aim to create an intellectual society.”

The gardens is open to everyone

Kewser Mardînî thinks all societies are affected by social media platforms and television. “War policies aim to create an ignorant society without history and culture. We decided to open reading gardens to prevent this. There are all kinds of books for children, teenagers and students in our reading garden. The garden is open to everyone interested in books. We are very happy to see young people reading books.”

They read books together

Ciwana Etê is one of the young people visiting the reading gardens with her friends every week. “Books allow us to learn new things, discover different cultures and traditions, and activate our imaginations. We enrich our vocabulary and learn many things by reading books. Books help us to be intellectual, improve our language and develop our creativity. I think reading is one of the most important activities to get to know other people all around the world and improve our personality. Every week, I come here with my friends to read the books of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. Thanks to the books, we get to know our history and reality. As young people, we have learned that we should be more active in our society,” Ciwana Etê told us.

Ciwana Etê concluded her speech saying, “We are happy to have such a garden so that we can improve ourselves. Today, education is very important for young women to improve themselves and gain their rights. I call on all young women to read books in order to improve themselves.”