JEDDAH: Children have been showing off their Arabic creative writing skills this week at an event set in the heart of the historical district of Al-Balad.

Organized by the Maken Academy for Reading, the program, which opened on Monday and runs through Friday, seeks to stimulate the imagination of children and young people with a special focus on the art of composing short stories.

The event opened on Monday at Bait Sharbatly, an architectural gem built in 1910 by Al-Sharif Abdulilah Mihanna Al-Abdaly and later owned by Sheikh Abdullah Sharbatly.

The grand setting provided a layer of historical significance to the program and emphasized the connection between heritage and creative expression.

Hanaa Hassanein, director of strategy and business development at the academy, said the main aim of the course was to help young people better connect with their cultural heritage.

The program is being run by a team of experts in Arabic writing and the visual arts.