At just nine, Mariam Mohammed Shamekh from Mauritania showed that determination and a love of reading can lead to remarkable achievement. Afourth-grade student at Al Fajr School in northern Nouakchott, she was named a national champion in the ninth Arab Reading Challenge, qualifying for the finals in the UAE, where she won third place at the closing ceremony in Dubai.

 Mariam learnt about the competition at school, and her parents encouraged her participation. She was selected for her academic excellence and good behaviour. While the Challenge requires reading 50 books, Mariam read nearly 100.

Each day, she visited the Challenge’s digital library, selecting books on culture, science and general knowledge, reading them carefully and preparing summaries. “Reading is joy for the mind and nourishment for the soul,” she said, encouraging  children to read widely and regularly.