Maryam Amjoun, from Morocco, captured hearts all around the Arab world, when she was crowned the champion of the 2018 Arab Reading Challenge. Nine years old at the time, the young girl stunned the world with her head-turning confidence, her eloquence in classical Arabic and her profound thought. Tears of joy streamed down her face upon her triumph on stage, prompting His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to embrace her warmly. Maryam’s emotional win has proven that the Arabic language is in good hands, and that MBRGI’s immense efforts to promote the Arabic literature through the Arab Reading Challenge is touching millions of young lives.

Today, at 11 years old, Maryam is an exceptional 6th grader, expanding her knowledge by studying different languages and mathematics. Her parents, who are both teachers, fully guide and support her. She has become a role model and an icon to young people in Morocco since she was named the Arab Reading Champion. As a reading ambassador, Maryam’s schedule is busy with school visits, where she shares her experience with students and encourages them to read, build their knowledge base early, refine their talents and learn about other cultures. She also appears in various TV shows to help raise awareness on road safety. With the onset of the global pandemic, Maryam used her position in the public eye to raise awareness, through interactive videos for children, about the precautions and safety measures necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19. UNICEF has also elected her as an advocate for children’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Maryam still has much to look forward to, and every day presents an opportunity for her to learn something new. She remains committed to the wise words she once said: “Reading feeds the mind and is a treasure chest of knowledge. Those who pursue it will thrive, and those who neglect it will fall behind.”