Three top places distributed among Syria, Jordan, and Egypt in the Shoman Children’s Literature Award

The results of the current cycle highlight a striking female presence in the competition, as the top three places went to female writers from three Arab countries, amid broad participation that reflected the growing interest in children's literature in the Arab world.

The first-place winner holds the Syrian Board in Laboratory Diagnostics, and has also pursued a number of specialized training programs in children's writing, including the illustrated story writing course via the Edrak platform, and the “Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest” program via the Coursera platform. She is currently devoted to caring for her family, while her participation in the award marks her very first experience in the field of children's literature.

As for the second-place winner, she is a Jordanian writer and novelist holding a Master’s degree in Arabic Language and Literature from Isra University, and she is interested in literary writing with a human dimension, through which she seeks to promote awareness, empathy, and address a number of humanitarian and intellectual issues.

In 2020, she published the novel “The Revenge of Narcissus” with Dar Al-Aan Publishers and Distributors, which deals with mental health issues, the importance of psychological support, and proper handling of psychological disorders.

Meanwhile, the third-place winner has experience in writing animation scripts and children's literature. She graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University, before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language and Literature from the same university. She has been working in the field of children's literature since 2021, and focuses her work on stories directed at children and the development of creative content related to the world of childhood, driven by her passion for literature and imagination.

Valentina Qussisiya, Chief Executive Officer of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, congratulated the winners, wishing them further creativity and brilliance in their literary careers.

Qussisiya stated that the advanced level of the works participating in this year's cycle reflects the growing interest in Arab children's literature and the richness and diversity of creative experiences witnessed in this field.

She praised the role played by the jury in reading and evaluating the works in accordance with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, emphasizing that the results are a reflection of the quality and excellence of the works.

She stressed that the award continues, through a rigorous judging mechanism, to support creators and encourage the production of literary content that enriches the imagination of the Arab child and enhances their relationship with reading and knowledge, in line with the Foundation's mission to invest in culture and creativity as a lever for development and progress.

For its part, the Scientific Committee of the Award explained that choosing the theme “Childhood: A World of Challenges” stemmed from the belief in the importance of listening to the child's inner world, and the questions, concerns, and challenges it holds that can affect their psychological and social development.

It pointed out that rapid cultural and digital transformations necessitate the need for creative visions and new artistic approaches that address contemporary children's issues, emphasizing that storytelling possesses the ability to combine knowledge and pleasure, provoke thought, and enhance awareness in children using a language close to their world.

The jury confirmed that selecting the winners was one of the most meticulous and responsible stages of judging, in light of the high technical level and the close competition among the shortlisted works, noting that it relied in its differentiation on an in-depth critical reading according to the approved criteria of the award, balancing originality, creativity, artistic value, and the suitability of the content for the target age group.

The committee also praised the outstanding level of the nine works that reached the short list, considering them all works worthy of publication and reading, due to the creative richness and ability to address the child with an elevated literary and artistic language they reflected.

The current session witnessed a wide turnout, as the award received 2,805 applications, out of which 1,750 participants met all nomination requirements, while 1,055 applicants did not complete the submission procedures.

Participations came from 43 Arab and non-Arab countries, with Egypt topping the list of participating countries at 26 percent, followed by Jordan at 18.6 percent, then Syria at 17.5 percent, Algeria at 9 percent, and Palestine at 8.4 percent.

The Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation has been organizing the award annually since 2006, with the aim of investing in cognitive, cultural, and social creativity, and contributing to the advancement of Arab societies through leadership thought, arts, and innovation.

The award is granted annually in the field of children's literature, alternating between a number of literary arts, including stories, poetry, novels, and theatrical texts for children.

The award includes a certificate in the name of the winner and the winning subject, a shield bearing the name and logo of the award, along with a financial reward of 18,000 dinars, distributed as 10,000 dinars for the first place, 5,000 dinars for the second place, and 3,000 dinars for the third place.