What happens when we teach our children to read? The 10-year-old Jana Abo Fakher is the right example for that suggestion!

We all know that the only thing that can bring humanity into a new level of civilization and improvement is knowledge, and that acting upon this knowledge will create the kind of people and society we dream of.

Jana abo Fakher, a 10-year-old girl, has won the 5th place in the Reading Arab Challenge at the level of Syria and has written a story collection titled “I Will Visit the World” for which she received many commendation and appreciation from several parties, most notably from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, and the youth and vanguards’ organizations.

That’s why Syria Times decided to know more about this interesting girl by interviewing her to highlight her experience.

Firstly, Abo Fakher told us about what encouraged her to read for longer periods of time!

She said that she started reading before entering school, and that her family used to apply a program at home called “the Acquisition of a Habit”.  “Reading was one of these habits that started with taking ten minutes, then half an hour, up to an hour, and now she reads in her free time, even if it exceeds an hour,” the talented girl added.

What are your favorite books and what are the best ideas you learned?

“As for my favorite books, my reading varied between Fantasy Literature, such as Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, I also like purposeful satirical literature such as the stories of Chekhov and Zakaria Tamer, as well as novels such as “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens and plays such as “Hamlet” by Shakespeare,” Abo Fakher clarified.

You wrote a group of short stories, what are they talking about?

“My collection tells a number of stories through the voices of different characters such as animals and grandparents. The main ideas of the stories talk about respect, accepting the other, returning to reading and storytelling,” she went on to say.

The collection also tells about the danger of bullying on individuals and on the society, she pointed out.

We also wanted to know what Jana Abo Fakher aspires to be when she grows up, but Janna seems to still see that she needs more time to acquire more experiences before she makes up her mind on that matter, while she will continue to read and write.

But, when asked about what could make reality better, Jana Abo Fakher told us about the secret remedy of getting to it as she said: “the beginning must be from the family, as when the family directs its children in the right direction, they will contribute to the advancement of their society.”

And now we have our remedy, if every family gives their children the right attention and direction we will get the reality we all dream of, a society of knowledgeable with deep and analytical people.

Abo Fakher allocated all profits of her short story collection to a social welfare house is Sweida city, so, we wanted to know what prompted her to do that!

It turns out that Abo Fakher read a story titled “My Sworn Enemy” which talks about an orphanage that includes more than a hundred children. She was greatly affected by the story and felt the need to offer something to these children.

But what is the thing that Jana Abo Fakher wishes to see practiced or known by all the children!?

“No doubt it is reading, there is a room for everyone in books, and there is no need to be a bird to see the world, just read a book,” she confidently explained.

About her participation in the Arab Reading Challenge this year, Jana Abou Faker said: “This is my second participation in the Arab Reading Challenge, I got fifth place among the top ten students at Syria’s level, pointing out that 375 students participated in the Arab Reading Challenge competitions.

Not to forget, Jana Abo Fakher made it to this place with the support of her awesome parents Mazen Abo Fakher and Amany Fahed who managed to make the best out of their young daughter.

In the end, Abo Fakher said: “In wars, the loser is the human being, and books are currently in a battle with social media platforms, which provide easy access to e-books, calling for sticking to paper books and preserving its existence so that we do not lose.”

Jana Abo Fakher is a Syrian example of what a child is able to be and achieve.

Leen Al Salman

Photos: Mahfoud Abu Hadier