Creativity meets enterprise as the festival fosters the next generation of innovators through hands-on experience and community support
Sharjah, April 26, 2025
It’s 8:30am at Expo Center Sharjah. The doors to the 16th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) haven’t yet swung open, but its halls hum with anticipation – and quiet ambition. Among the first to set up in the bustling Artist’s Lane is Tamara Mohammed, poised behind a neat display of bracelets, charms, and hand-stitched tote bags. At just 21, Tamara represents a growing tide of young entrepreneurs choosing SCRF not just as a marketplace, but as a launchpad for creative careers.
Tamara is the founder of Younha Accessories, a brand she started in her first year of university as little more than a hobby. “It began with making bracelets to pass the time,” she recalls, her voice bright with pride. “But over the years, I kept expanding – charms, wristbands, keychains, even tote bags. I recently graduated and now, this is my full-time pursuit.” For Tamara, a Jordanian national who has long called the UAE her “home away from home,” the country’s entrepreneurial spirit is contagious. “Setting up here, at SCRF, has taught me so much – not just about business, but about people. I’ve learnt to speak to customers from different countries, to understand other cultures, and to see how creativity connects us.”
Now in her third year at the festival, Tamara is a familiar face among regulars – volunteers, police officers, even visiting authors. “The community is what keeps me coming back. Every day, someone drops by just to say hello or chat. It’s a special feeling.” Her K-Pop themed accessories are a hit with the young festival crowd, a reflection of her own fandom and of the cultural fusions that define the modern UAE.
Tamara’s story is mirrored throughout the festival’s bevy of stalls and pop-up bookshops. Nearby, the Comics Store corner is alive with the energy of young booksellers who, though still students, are already learning the ropes of business – one satisfied customer at a time. Bowie Barnette, a 20-year-old American undergraduate, beams as she shares her own aspirations: “I work for Deep Shelves bookstore, and here at SCRF I’m getting a feel for what it’s like to run a bookshop. I’d love to open my own book store and manage it – or maybe even an author if I get brave enough! This festival gives me the space to try out those dreams.”
Bowie’s colleague, 19-year-old Denecia-Ann Dulay from the Philippines, describes the sense of belonging she’s found at SCRF. “I love books, especially manga and anime, so working here is a perfect fit. My mum just messaged to wish me luck again,” she laughs, “and I know she’s proud.”
If the global surge in youth entrepreneurship has made headlines, the UAE is no exception. In fact, recent studies suggest that nearly half (47%) of the nation’s social entrepreneurs are aged between 18 and 34. Platforms like SCRF are helping to power this movement, offering young people a safe, supportive space to test their ideas, refine their craft, and learn from failure as much as success.
The result is a festival that feels less like a book fair and more like a vibrant community incubator – a place where creativity is currency, and where the lessons learned at a pop-up stall may one day fuel a new business, a novel, or even an entire career.
For parents and educators, the impact is clear: at a time when creativity and resilience are more important than ever, SCRF is nurturing both. For young people like Tamara, Bowie, and Denecia-Ann, it is a proving ground – an invitation to dream out loud.
The 16th edition of Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is open to all, free of charge, until May 4. For details, visit www.scrf.ae .
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