Khaberni - A state of notable celebration, both officially and publicly, was enjoyed by the Tunisian twins Bissan and Bilsan following their victory of the first prize in the "Arabic Reading Challenge" organized by the "Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives" foundation.
Feelings of joy mixed with national pride swept social media platforms, especially since a twin victory at such a young age is unprecedented in the history of the contest which "enjoys a high reputation in the Arab world", according to experts.
Activists considered that "the victory is an inspiring achievement for the new generations in Tunisia about the value of awareness and culture, at a time when many have turned away from reading in favor of the technology of the age like mobile phones, which often leads to a flattening of consciousness."
The Tunisian President, Kais Saied, emphasized during his reception of the winners at the Carthage Palace that "Bissan and Bilsan not only dazzled the attendees but also spread the echo of their outstanding statements with their well-structured and eloquent words around the world."
According to a statement issued by the Tunisian presidency on Saturday, "the age of the twins is only two years beyond their first decade, yet the statements they made were marked by sequence, fluency, depth of thought, eloquence, and rhetorical skill."
The twins' father residing in the region of "Saqiyat Sidi Yusuf" in the Tunisian state of Kef mentioned that "the child is but a blank page and the parents are the ones to decide what will be written on it."
In media statements, he noted that "the twins' mother encouraged them to read from an early age, and their school teacher involved them in cultural competitions when she noticed their brilliance."
The monetary value of the prize the twins won after competing with 5 contestants is half a million Emirati dirhams, while the contestant Bissan described her father as "the best and ideal reader for her".
She said in media statements "Khaberni was not just a competition for me, for I have realized since childhood that reading is the key to all knowledge, and that I can elevate my status through it, and today I reap the fruits of 3 years of continuous reading."
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, attended the events of the ninth season of the Arabic Reading Challenge.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said on his official "X" platform account: "I witnessed today the events of the ninth season of the Arabic Reading Challenge.. with the participation of more than 32 million students from fifty countries around the world.. Congratulations to the twin students Bissan and Bilsan from the green Tunisia for winning first place.. Congratulations to the Tunisian people, leadership, and youth on this excellence and success."
He added: "Congratulations to all the participating students.. and all the supervisors numbering more than 160,000 supervisors.. Congratulations to more than 132,000 schools joining us in spreading the culture of reading among the new Arab generations.. A generation that promises good.. and a generation that will revive hope and continue civilization, God willing."
According to observers, the "Arabic Reading Challenge" has achieved an unprecedented accomplishment in a short time by attracting more than 163 million students and more than 877,000 reading supervisors, and registering more than 927,000 school participations.
