“Read to taste enlightenment,” “The book is a sea of experiences, so set sail,” and other phrases were inscribed by teacher and poet Hoda Khadaj as part of a library project she founded in the city of Shahba in As-Suwayda, serving as a welcoming guide for students and intellectuals who visit to read1. .
The project, which teacher Hoda established two months ago, came after her retirement as she sought to invest her time in something useful for the people of her town, aiming to provide a quiet place for study, encourage education, and motivate reading through a collection of literary and historical books and philosophical studies, in addition to some references needed by students.
Teacher Hoda explained that she chose this project because it did not exist before in the city of Shahba, which has a large number of students and cultural elites, and out of her desire to offer something new to serve the people of her town that aligns with her educational role as a teacher and her cultural role as a poet.
According to teacher Hoda, she selected a suitable location for her project, paying attention to details concerning the library's visitors, such as providing an internet connection and adding simple décor and artistic paintings, in addition to dedicating a corner for the intellectual mental sport of chess.
Teacher Hoda, who receives support and encouragement from her husband, mathematics teacher Nashaat Maqled, is keen to introduce her project to the largest number of students and intellectuals, while balancing her work with her responsibilities toward her family and the care of her son with a disability. She notes that what she is doing has a knowledge-based goal, regardless of any material considerations, as she charges only symbolic fees from the library's visitors.
According to the library's visitors, Lorina Abu Latif found it to be a beautiful place to read novels as she is an enthusiast of them, while Aseel Abu Karam from the ninth grade explained how she has started visiting the library regularly to study due to the comfortable atmosphere within it.
