Leaving home is never simple, and that was the heart of our workshop built on Naomi Shihab Nye’s The Turtle of Oman. Hosted at Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, it became a space where students could explore change, belonging, and the memories we carry with us.

Two students were trained to lead. One took on the role of host, guiding the session with ease, while another delivered the storytelling and drew the audience into Aref’s journey. Their classmates joined in, adding their voices and connecting the story to their own lives.

The activity gave the story shape. Children folded turtle origami, each one a small symbol of carrying home wherever you go. As they worked, they shared thoughts, asked questions, and made the story their own.

For HAL, the workshop was about more than literature. It was about giving students the stage, the confidence to lead, and the chance to turn reading into a lived experience.