Under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) announced the launch of the second edition of the “We Write in Arabic” initiative, in a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Visa International, Zain Bahrain, and the Family of Writers.
The initiative aims to enhance the status of the Arabic language and link it to creativity and innovation, through a national initiative directed at age groups from 10 to 35 years, which includes four main categories: short stories, comics, poetry, and novels, with financial prizes of up to 1,000 Bahraini dinars for each winner in each category, with literary works printed in the initiative’s book.
This initiative falls within the bank’s strategy aimed at strengthening its role in supporting community development, and consolidating its continued commitment to investing in promising national talent from the new generation, which contributes to building a strong base of local talent capable of leading the future.
On this occasion, Ayman bin Tawfiq Al-Moayyed, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, stated: “This initiative embodies the vision of the wise leadership in empowering young people and enhancing their creativity. The Arabic language is not just a means of expression, but rather a wide space for creativity and innovation. Our participation today is an affirmation of our belief in the ability of young people to shape the future with their language and identity.”
Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Information, affirmed the Ministry’s pride in participating in this initiative for the second year in a row, noting the keenness it embodies in preserving the position that the Arabic language enjoys in the cultural identity of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and ensuring its use as a tool for communication and creativity between generations, as it is an essential tributary of strengthening belonging and pride in national identity.
For his part, Dr. Muhammad bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education, stressed the importance of such initiatives that encourage interest in the Arabic language, to enhance the role played by the Ministry of Education and schools in the Kingdom, to further connect students with their mother tongue and highlight their literary talents by using it as a main means of expression, praising the partnership with the Bahrain Islamic Bank and the rest of the institutions to make the initiative a success.
For her part, Rawan bint Najib Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, confirmed: “The We Write in Arabic initiative opens new paths for self-expression for Bahraini youth. We believe in their ability to transform the language into a tool for creativity and influence. Our partnership today is a belief in their pioneering role in building the future.”
Fatima Al Alawi, CEO of Bahrain Islamic Bank, said: “We are proud to launch the second edition of the “We Write in Arabic” initiative, after the inspiring success of the first edition. The initiative is not just a literary competition, but a renewed commitment to our cultural identity, and a platform that enables our youth to express their creative visions in their mother tongue, the language that carries our features and values.”
Ali Bailon, General Manager of Visa in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, also commented: “Our participation in this initiative embodies Visa’s commitment to building partnerships drawn from the heart of local communities. Our partnerships do not stop at the economic, technical and financial aspects only, but extend to include community partnerships that enhance positive impact, provide a brighter vision for the future, and support… Creativity and digital transformation. We are proud of this partnership, and look forward to participating in more community initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
Mohammed Zain Al-Abidin, Managing Director of Zain Bahrain, said: “The Arabic language goes beyond being a linguistic heritage. It is the language of thought and technology at the same time. Our vision at Zain Bahrain is focused on enabling future generations to use their language as a tool for innovation in an accelerating digital world, and today we are proud to be a strategic partner in this initiative that enhances cultural identity.”
Dr. Rashid Najm, Chairman of the Family of Writers, concluded: “We are proud of this cultural partnership that brings together literature and youth. This platform allows us to discover promising pens and build a bridge between literary creativity and national identity, and we are proud of our partnership in this initiative for the second year in a row because of its tangible positive impact.”
Registration is open to participate in the We Write in Arabic initiative via a dedicated electronic platform, with entries being evaluated by a committee that includes an elite group of writers and academics. The initiative’s agenda will also include interactive activities and workshops, and the program will conclude with a ceremony honoring the winners that coincides with International Arabic Language Day.
