Rabee’s Story: A Passion for Reading Amidst Life’s Challenges

Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope) – Ahmed Bajoaim

Reading is a fundamental tool for self-development and knowledge-building. It can shape young people’s lives, closely linked to personal and professional growth. Despite challenges like technology’s allure and social pressures, positive indicators show young people’s passion for reading.

“Taht Al-Gasr (Under the Bridge) Library” in Mukalla exemplifies promoting culture among young people. Filmmaker Dr. Abdul-Hadi Al-Tamimi established this initiative to spread reading culture across all community segments. He believes young people’s passion for reading reflects their ability to grow and overcome challenges, connecting them to the world and broadening their horizons. Fostering this passion requires integrated efforts from educational and cultural institutions, as well as the community and family.

A Story of Passion

Young people’s direction reflects a complex reality in the country. Books and libraries are waning against the surge of the internet and social media. This cultural and social shift reflects a mix of factors, from the internet’s ease of content access to difficult economic and social conditions hindering young people from investing in reading for learning and leisure.

However, this situation can be leveraged to reshape ways of promoting reading through the internet itself, by creating digital platforms for accessing books and magazines. Additionally, community cultural initiatives can be developed to revive the love of reading among young people, through mobile libraries or those in public spaces, and by organizing educational events that align with their current interests.

Rabee’ Khamis (a man in his thirties from Al-Mukalla) faced economic and social challenges that prevented him from completing his education after the ninth grade. But he didn’t let circumstances hold him back. Instead, he found reading a way to enrich himself and develop his culture, making him an inspiring model for young people.

Rabee’ found in the library under the Mukalla Sea Bridge a positive outlet and alternative to negative behaviors. He visits the library daily, not just for reading, but also to take care of its contents, making him the library’s second-in-command.

The library under the Mukalla Sea Bridge is a unique cultural initiative aimed at promoting reading culture among various segments of society, especially café-goers. It provides open bookshelves throughout the day in the heart of the street, allowing everyone to access knowledge easily and without cost.

Rabee’ says: “Instead of falling into pitfalls or deviant behaviors, I divided my time between home and the library. I go there from morning to noon, then return in the afternoon until late at night.”

Rabee’ expresses his deep commitment to self-improvement and caring for the library, which has become an essential part of his daily life. The library is not just a place for reading, but a refuge contributing to his personal and social balance, especially amid unemployment. His daily attendance, care for its contents, and utilization of freely available knowledge resources reflect a positive model for avoiding negative behaviors and investing time in self-development. His role as the library’s second-in-command in Dr. Tamimi’s absence shows his responsibility and sense of belonging to this place.

The Harvest of Years of Reading

Over years of dedicated reading, Rabee’ has successfully read and retained about 100 books, ranging from civilizations and novels reflecting the culture and history of Hadhramaut and Yemen to world and Arab literature. The library, containing over 150 books in various fields, has become an integral part of his life.

The library has become a daily destination for many community segments in Mukalla, especially in the evening, when residents tend to spend time in cafes after work. The initiative has attracted readers of all ages, helping to enhance cultural awareness and spread the love of reading in the city.

Rabee’s story summarizes how willpower and passion can transform challenges into opportunities. He is not just a reader but an ambassador of knowledge, supporting the library and demonstrating that culture and education are not limited to classrooms but can be acquired anywhere as long as there is passion.