The American University of Madaba, represented by the Faculty of Languages and Communication and the Language Center, hosted a joint seminar with the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation titled “Children’s Literature and Human Rights” on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

The event was held as part of the Foundation’s celebrations for the announcement of the 2025 Children’s Literature Awards, which this year focused on Travel Literature, and within the series of cultural activities accompanying the awards.

The seminar was attended by a group of AUM students, faculty members, and administrative staff. Dr. Hanan Madanat, Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Communication, welcomed the attendees and highlighted the ongoing cooperation between AUM and the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation.
Eng. Areen Al-Abdallat, representing the Foundation, presented an overview of the organization’s cultural initiatives and activities across the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

During the seminar, Dr. Shahla Al-Ajeeli, Professor of Modern Literature and Cultural Studies at AUM, spoke on “Children’s Literature: From Imagination to Official Document.”
Writer and storyteller Haya Saleh discussed “The Challenges of Children’s Literature in the Digital Age,” while Abdul Hakim Ahmad, one of this year’s award winners for his story “Adventure in the Valley of the Moon,” addressed “The Representation of Children’s Rights in International Human Rights Documents through Children’s Literature.”

The session was moderated by Dr. Amani Suleiman, Professor of Arabic Literature at the University of Petra, who facilitated the discussion and engaged with questions from the audience.

This seminar reflects AUM’s commitment to promoting cultural dialogue, intellectual exchange, and partnerships that enrich academic and literary engagement in Jordan and beyond.