In line with the spirit of the directives issued by the President of UAE, H.H. Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan with regards to observing 2016 as the Year of Reading, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority has come up with an innovative community initiative under the title 'ADFCA Reads' of which the announcement has come recently.

The initiative which reflects ADFCA's social commitment has a number of programs onboard that aiming at raising public awareness about the importance of reading and acquiring knowledge.

While commenting on the occasion, Ali Yousef Al Saad, Acting Director of Communication & Community Service Division of ADFCA said, "Through this initiative, we are aiming to educate the citizens and general public about the importance of President's directive with regards to observing 2016 as the year of reading and its impact over the growth and development in the country. Leaderships' vision indeed is going to build a powerful new generation who would be instrumental in bringing happiness to the lives of UAE citizens as well as the residents"

He said, the initiative, ADFCA Reads, reflects the authority's deep-rooted commitment towards society as well as the desire to contribute in taking government campaigns to its best through creating effective partnerships with other public entities.

The initiative includes a variety of activities targeting public in general and ADFCA employees in particular which encourage the habit of reading and enriching the knowledge and culture. As part of the activities, the organizing team will distribute Flashes of Thought, the book written by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, among the employees.

The team will also prepare short notes on books of regional and international fame and exhibit it on various corners of ADFCA headquarters in MBZ city in innovative ways to catch the attraction of the viewers. The program which is titled as 'We read for you' will help the employees as well as visitors to ADFCA office to have an idea of books through some catchy sentences. This will inspire the curiosity of the viewer and will encourage him to read the particular book fully.

A 'Book Coroner' will also be set up in each ADFCA offices in order to create opportunity for employees to read and borrow books any time. A one-day book exhibition will be organized for employees to exhibit books from their personal collections in order to create platform to view and exchange books.

Another ingredient of the 'ADFCA Reads' initiative is a program designed to promote local books. A local book is selected each month and will be provided for each sector and floor under this program which is called 'Book of the Month'.

Each organizational sectors in ADFCA will fix a day as Sector's Day on which employees will gather to share reading experiences as well as the knowledge and cultural lessons acquired from the books read in that month.

There will be an interaction between ADFC employees and a prominent Emirati writer, being part of the initiative, which will focus on reading techniques and the practical tips for nurturing the habit of reading and sustain it.

It is also decided to include libraries in all stands ADFCA sets up in various exhibitions in the country in order to show ADFCA's contributions in the publication field as well as to give the viewers the message of Year of Reading initiative. ADFCA will participate in the upcoming Abu Dhabi Book Fair under the banner of the initiative and will arrange a special stand to interact with general public in order to spread the spirit of reading for building a healthy and enlightened society.