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In line with Ain Shams University’s strategy aimed at supporting cultural and creative industries, and reinforcing its role in building awareness and developing students’ intellectual and creative capacities, the Department of Arabic Language at the Faculty of Al-Alsun organized a specialized workshop titled “The Art of Writing for Children,” with the participation of a distinguished group of academics and specialists in literature and publishing.

The workshop was held under the patronage of Prof. Yomna Safwat, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun, and Prof. Wagih Yacoub El-Sayed, Head of the Arabic Language Department. It featured a lecture by Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud Khaled, Director of E-Learning at Nahdet Misr Publishing Group, and was moderated by Prof. Ahmed Abdel-Azim Mohamed, Professor of Literature and Criticism in the department.

The workshop addressed advanced theoretical and practical frameworks in the field of creative writing for children. It explored the theoretical foundations of children’s literature in terms of concept, function, and genres, as well as the artistic structure of children’s storytelling. It also highlighted the distinctions between narrative genres, alongside standards of writing tailored to the developmental characteristics of different age groups, including childhood and adolescence.

In addition, the workshop examined patterns of children’s reception and their impact on shaping creative discourse, while presenting applied models and practical experiences reflecting the requirements of the publishing market in this field. This contributes to preparing students to engage with contemporary cultural industries.

The event witnessed notable attendance from faculty members, teaching assistants, and a wide participation of students. Discussions were marked by high levels of interaction and richness, reflecting the growing interest in children’s literature as a key component in shaping societal awareness. The workshop concluded with an open dialogue session, allowing students to raise questions and engage in discussions in a dynamic academic environment that fostered knowledge exchange.

Ceremony honoring the winners of the annual literary competition

Following the workshop, a ceremony was held to distribute awards of creativity and certificates of appreciation for the annual literary competition organized by the Arabic Language Department for undergraduate students across different academic programs. This comes within the faculty’s commitment to supporting student talents and encouraging distinguished literary production.

The ceremony was attended by Prof. Hala El-Sayed, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs; Prof. Wagih Yacoub El-Sayed, Head of the Arabic Language Department; and the competition jury, which included Prof. Abdel Moaty Saleh, Prof. Soaad Saleh, Dr. Noha Mokhtar, and Prof. Sayed Mohamed Kotb. Prof. Assem El-Amari from the German Language Department also attended the event.

The winners were honored across several categories, including classical poetry, colloquial poetry, very short stories (flash fiction), and short stories. Awards were distributed among first, second, and third places, in addition to excellence awards, as follows:

First: Classical Poetry

First place (shared): Hassan Salama Hassan (3rd year – Arabic), Ahmed Hamza (3rd year – German)

Second place: Mohamed Mahmoud Hassanien (4th year – German)

Third place (shared): Mohamed Hassan Ali (4th year – English), Karim El-Sayed Ahmed (4th year – German)

Excellence awards: Aliaa Tarek Mahgoub (2nd year – Russian), Asmaa Emad Tawfik (4th year – German)

Second: Colloquial Poetry

First place: Nourhan Essam Saleh (4th year – German), Yassin Mohamed Khamis (2nd year – Spanish)

Second place: Mohamed Abdelrahman Fouad (1st year – English)

Third place: Ahmed Adel El-Sayed (4th year – German)

Third: Very Short Story (Flash Fiction)

First place: Mohamed Ali Farouk (3rd year – Hebrew), Shahd Abdelrahman Mohamed (4th year – Chinese)

Second place: Mounir Ahmed Mounir (3rd year – German), Youssef Atef Youssef (1st year – Italian)

Third place: Lobna Ahmed Mahmoud (3rd year – German), Mayada Mohamed Saleh (1st year – Chinese)

Excellence award: Ganna Ahmed El-Saadaoui (4th year – Portuguese)

Fourth: Short Story

First place: Mohamed Hesham Mohamed Fathy (4th year – German), Hanan Shokry Abdelalim (4th year – Spanish)

Second place: Ahmed Abdelnasser Mahmoud (3rd year – German), Mariam Mohamed Farouk (4th year – German), Radwa Nasser Abdel Fattah (3rd year – German)

Third place: Sundos Abdel Fadil (4th year – Hebrew), Mahmoud Nasr Sayed (1st year – Russian)

Excellence awards: Kholoud Khaled El-Dosouky (4th year – German), Aya Allah Mostafa Mohamed (4th year – German), Menna Allah Mahmoud Abdel Fattah (2nd year – Spanish)

Through these activities, the Faculty of Al-Alsun reaffirms its academic and cultural commitment to nurturing literary talents, promoting creative innovation, and linking educational outcomes with the needs of the cultural environment and labor market, thereby contributing to preparing a generation capable of actively engaging in literary fields, particularly children’s literature.