Children’s minds are formed by what they read. Today’s children are not easily attracted to colour drawing, or persuaded to go to bed by the promise of a bedtime story. They want another kind of nutrition.
We should be ready to plant the principles and values of love and brotherhood, belonging, loyalty and openness to the ‘other’ who is a partner in this homeland regardless of religion or race, in the souls of our children, the guardians of the future.
Qatral-Nada (Dew Drops) is a biweekly magazine that addresses children. Any reader is bound to observe that the values of peace, kindness, tolerance and acceptance of the other figure high on its agenda. The magazine is very attractive to children for its colourful graphics and exciting stories.
Last Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, the back cover of Qatral-Nada carried a poem by a young Christian reader, Marguerite Nashed, welcoming the holy month and expressing happiness at all the activities relevant to it. The poem was accompanied by a brightly coloured painting of the famous Ramadan lantern, also by Nashed.
The editor Ahmed Zaraour wrote a comment about Marguerite who, he said, came from a family which believed that “Ramadan was not just for Muslims, but for all Egyptians”.
Reciprocally, the magazine honours Christian occasions and encourages its Muslim readers to respect them. Undoubtedly, at this point in time, Egypt can do with more such works.