Books and reading are the main infrastructure of KANOON’s programs.

According to the correspondent of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Bandar Abbas, Parvin Poshtkuhi, referring to 60 years of activity of the Intellectual Development Center for Children and Young Adults (KANOON) and the implementation of 60 diverse activities by the center, stated that books and reading are the main infrastructure for all these programs. She added: All KANOON activities either start with a book, are related to a book during implementation, or conclude with a book.

The Director-General of the Intellectual Development Center for Children and Young Adults of Hormozgan Province, in a meeting with Mohammad Bandeh, the governor of Hormoz Island, on the occasion of Book and Reading Week and the Storytelling Festival, emphasized that this week is an opportunity to re-emphasize this centrality. She added that the library of KANOON’s cultural and artistic center on Hormoz Island has about 10,000 volumes of books, and 64 new titles will be added to it this week.

Referring to the upcoming 27th International Storytelling Festival, she described the festival as a platform for fostering thought and skill. She stated that this festival is not merely about training storytellers but is a process to strengthen deep thinking, correct expression, expand vocabulary, and boost self-confidence in children and young adults.

Poshtkuhi, referring to the 27-year history of the Storytelling Festival, emphasized: “We are seeking to nurture individuals who can become worthy managers and lawmakers for society in the future; those who think, read, and articulate well.”

She considered the role of storytelling in reducing the generational gap between today’s generation and past generations to be very effective and stated: “Storytelling can be a bridge between generations and strengthen respect and emotional bonds.”

Parvin Poshtkuhi, referring to the high-quality provincial storytelling festival, which is evaluated at national and even international levels, emphasized the goal of “hope creation and joy” in society through such festivals.

She announced plans for specialized and educational storytelling workshops with national experts such as “Atousa Shamloo” and added: “These trainings will be held simultaneously for students, teachers, and committed artists of the island to enhance educational and cultural quality.”

Poshtkuhi in another part of her speech, while appreciating the cooperation and support of the provincial officials and cultural institutions, explained KANOON’s future programs and outlooks.

In this regard, the Director-General of Hormozgan KANOON announced the construction of a new 170-square-meter hall next to the current center on Hormoz Island. She said: “With the pursued efforts, in cooperation with school renovation authorities and the support of the governor, the budget for this project has been secured, and its executive operations will soon begin to resolve the problem of insufficient space for various cultural and artistic programs on the beautiful Hormoz Island.”

Poshtkuhi also asked all institutions to support KANOON for the further development of cultural activities on Hormoz Island.

Following the meeting, Mohammad Bandeh, the governor of Hormoz Island, noted that most students on Hormoz Island are members of the Intellectual Development Center for Children and Young Adults (KANOON) and said: “KANOON’s cultural and artistic center on Hormoz Island undertakes important activities in the field of children and young adults despite many limitations.”

He announced that the governor’s office supports talent identification for children and young adults on Hormoz Island, emphasizing: “Many students have shone at the national level thanks to KANOON’s activities.”

Bandeh emphasized that the development of KANOON is a sign of intellectual maturity and growth on Hormoz Island and expressed hope that with the improvement and development of this sector, cultural activities will also expand on Hormoz Island.

According to IBNA, at the end of this meeting, it was decided that the governor of Hormoz Island would notify departments about the participation of institutions in organizing the storytelling festival.