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Projects for children and youth

Austria

Belgium (Flemish Community)

Belgium (Francophone)

  • Rage to Read (Fureur de Lire): annual celebration of literature and books in the French community.
  • Small Rage (La Petite Fureur de Lire): a competition for children aged 3-13, promoting authors and illustrators from Wallonia and Brussels. Children choose a book by a Belgian author and illustrator and, based on this, they develop an artistic activity (e.g. poems, drawings, theatre play, song, videos, etc.).
  • Lectomaton: individuals can record themselves reading a text, individually or in a group, in any place of their choice. They may use webcams, mobile phones or cameras. The recordings are then shared on the internet.
  • Ouvrir mon quotidien: schools from primary to secondary education can receive journals from the Belgian Francophone press for free. Training sessions and online pedagogical materials on how the written press can be used in classroom activities are also provided to teachers.
  • Book Battle (Bataille des Livres): an international reading competition between schools from seven different countries aimed at pupils aged 8-12.
  • Junior reporters (Journalistes en herbe): competition in which pupils create a newspaper. This competition is aimed at classes of pupils in the final year of primary education and pupils in lower-secondary education.
  • Secondary education students Literary Prize (Prix des lycéens de Littérature): students in the final year of secondary education and their teachers work on five recent Belgian novels and choose their favourite. This initiative also covers meetings with the books' authors, with other students and with librarians.
  • Read us a story (Lis-nous une histoire): an intergenerational initiative in which community members read stories to children on a regular basis throughout the school year. This initiative targets pupils in pre-primary education.
  • Bernard Versele Award (Prix Bernard Versele): children aged 3-14 vote on their favourite book from a pre-selected list compiled by specialists.
  • Farniente Award (Prix Farniente): adolescents aged 13-16 vote on their favourite book.
  • Teen-Reading Award (Prix Ado-Lisant): adolescents aged 13-17 sign-up in a library of their choice and, from a selection of six novels, they vote on their favourite. Adolescents also have the opportunity to meet the books' authors and to organise and participate in a debate on the topics covered by the books.
  • Balfroid Dictation (La dictée du Balfroid): a national competition for classes of pupils in the final year of primary school.
  • La culture a de la Classe: programme comprising partnerships between schools and Brussels-based organisations (artistic, cultural). Projects involve pupils from primary until initial tertiary education and aim to develop the pleasure of reading, artistic expression and active citizenship.
  • Scrabble Schools' Competition (Scrabble et concours d'école): Scrabble competition in primary and secondary schools.

Bulgaria

Cyprus

  • Promotion of literacy: – in the schools that are part of the Education Action Zone programme (Προώθηση των βασικών δεξιοτήτων της ανάγνωσης και του γραπτού λόγου): programme involving classes and teaching Greek and basic literacy to children and parents who come from either lower socio-economic and lower educational strata or families whose first language is not Greek. 
  • Functional Literacy Programme (Programma Alfavitismou):aims at reducing school failure and prevention of school drop-out and social exclusion by developing pupils' basic skills, including reading skills.

Czech Republic

Denmark

  • Bookstart(Bogstart): this programme aims to help parents with the development of their children's early literacy skills by providing them with a package of books and CDs with music and reading.
  • Joy of Reading Programme (Læselyst): aims to promote the pleasure of reading among children. The programme is responsible for a wide range of activities, such as national reading campaigns or literary activities for young people. This programme is also responsible for the Kindergarten Libraries(Børnehavebiblioteker. Læselyst) initiative.
  • Reading for Life(Vi læser for livet): the project aims to provide training to teachers to help them to promote reading competencies among their students across compulsory education.
  • Brønderslev writing school (Brønderslev Forfatterskole): a summer school held annually for adolescents aged 13-16. The writing school aims to bring together professional writers and young people who dream about becoming writers.

Estonia

  • Reading is Fun(Lugemine on mõnus): aims to promote literacy skills and the reading habit among children, who can discuss books on-line. The project is also extended to children with hearing impairment and to Russian-speaking children.
  • Reading Nest(Lugemispesa): teachers create a favourable reading environment to promote children's interest in reading. Teachers are also trained in storytelling.
  • Reading Games(Lugemismängude): games to promote reading skills among children.
  • Young Readers Choice Award Nukits Competition (Nukitsa konkurss): an innovative approach in which children choose the best original children's book in the categories of writer and illustrator.
  • Novel Contest for Youth (Noorteromaani Võistluse Tulemused).
  • Raisin of the Year Award (Aasta Rosina auhind). 
  • Library Bus Katarina Jee(Raamatukogubuss Katarina Jee): is a library bus operating in areas where there is no permanent library. It provides books for children and adults in both Estonian and Russian.
  • Storiesand Poems(Jutud; Luuletuste): an initiative in which children write stories and poems which are then competitively selected and published on the library's webpage.

Finland

  • Celia Library: a special library that produces and provides literature in accessible formats (e.g. audio books, Braille, e-books) for people unable to read standard printed books. It has a special section and materials for children.  
  • Publication of two literature magazines written by children and young people, Vinski(aimed at children) and Lukufiilis(aimed at young people).
  • Children, media and libraries (Lapset, media ja kirjastot): media education courses for professionals in libraries working with children and youngsters. The aim of the programme is to help promote media literacy among children. 

France

  • Eduscol: web portal for education professionals, providing materials and information across all education levels.
  • Bien(!)Lire: provides support materials for teachers and other education professionals. 
  • To Read and Make Read (Lire et Faire Lire): promotes intergenerational exchanges between children and volunteers aged above 50 in the area of reading and literature. 
  • Jump-Start (Coup de Pouce Clé): programme of reading assistance for beginners at risk of underachievement. This programme also involves parents' active participation. 
  • A Thousand and One Nights Competition (Concours Mille et une Nuits): writing competition for classes in elementary and lower-secondary schools. 
  • It's your turn to read (À vous de lire): book and reading festival.
  • A Lorry of Words (Camion des Mots): targeted at children aged 8-15, this itinerant project travels throughout France and allows children to learn and play with the French language.
  • Association of the Student Foundation for the City (Association de la Fondation Etudiante pour la Ville): engages students in providing reading support sessions for younger children. See also www.afev.fr/pdf/fiches_action/fa_acc_avl_23022009.pdfpdf
  • First Pages (Premières Pages): intends to encourage parents to read to their children. In this initiative, a book has been given to each baby born or adopted in 2009 and 2010.
  • Babies Love Books (Les Bébés aiment les livres): in this project, libraries were equipped with books for children aged 0-3 and an awareness-raising plan was launched targeting parents, librarians and early-childhood professionals.
  • Turkish Mother-Child Education Programme.

Germany

  • Lesestart: this is a programme to stimulate reading during early childhood. It distributes three 'reading starter sets' to children at various stages of their life to put them in contact with books at an early age. The programme is focused on neighbourhoods with a high share of low-educated parents.

Greece

Hungary

  • Nationwide competition for upper secondary pupils: in several subjects, including 'mother tongue'.
  • Day of the Folk Tale (A népmese napja): various programmes and events (such as lectures, panel discussions, book talks, storytelling and illustration contests for younger readers) to preserve literary tradition, the folk tale, and to promote the reading of stories that celebrate Hungarian national identity.
  • National Book Week & Children's Books Days (Ünnepi Könyvhét és Gyermekkönyvnapok): event promoting Hungarian language books, literacy and culture.
  • Pedagogical Counsellors Offices (Nevelési Tanácsadók): draws attention to reading difficulties and associated disorders. It also provides parents with information on the phenomenon and possible ways of managing the problem.
  • Peto Institute Budapest (Pető Intézet, Budapest): is an international institution aimed at helping motor-disabled children aged 2 to 17 to integrate into society. The institution work also includes support for reading development.   

Ireland

Italy

  • School libraries network for the key competences of XXI century (Una rete di biblioteche scolastiche per le competenze chiave del XXI secolo): aims to reinforce the importance of school libraries in the promotion of reading for pleasure and book culture. 
  • E-inclusion: funding is provided to selected schools for the purchase of specific hardware and software. The project aims to support schools in developing initiatives to better integrate pupils in risk areas and pupils with disabilities.
  • New Technologies and Disabilities (Nuove Tecnologie e Disabilità): the project aims to foster learning and inclusion of disabled pupils in school by integrating special education teaching with new technologies. 
  • Child and Youth Book Centre: supports and develops reading and writing activities in German for children and adolescents.
  • Xanadu: Society of avid readers (Xanadu. Comunità di lettori ostinati): is a national reading competition for adolescents. Library for children in Italy and around the world (Biblioteche per ragazzi in Italia e nel mondo).
  • Born to Read (Nati per Leggere): programme aiming to promote reading aloud to young children aged from 6 months to 6 years old.
  • De Amicis Library (Biblioteca De Amicis): is Italy's first child and youth library. It promotes several literacy-related activities across diverse age groups. 
  • Italian-German Bookstart: is a bilingual Italian-German Bookstart programme in South Tyrol. The programme provides free books for babies aged 6 and 18 months.

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

  • MyBooks: allows readers and teachers to share book suggestions and opinions on the books they read. 
  • Bicherbus: a library bus working six days per week in all the country's regions. 
  • Young Writer Prize (Prix du Jeune Ecrivain): is an association aiming to promote reading and writing among youngsters. It organises a competition for an international literary prize for youngsters aged between 15 and 27. It also arranges writing workshops, literary meetings in schools and adaptation of literary texts to theatre plays. 
  • Initiative Pleasure of Reading (Initiative Plaisir de Lire a.s.b.l.; Freed um Liesen a.s.b.l.): promotes several reading-related activities for children and adults. Once a week, a book for children in French or German is presented in the radio programmeKrappschass & Co. 

Malta

  • Family Support Programme: various training activities for parents to support them and encourage parental involvement in their children's education. 
  • Wide Community Initiatives: various reading activities at the local library as well as training to support schools and parents. 
  • Complementary Education: tailor-made intervention programme to fill gaps in learners' knowledge in literacy and oracy skills. 
  • Reading and the Dyslexic Learner: individual programmes or small group interventions to ensure the development of literacy in children encountering severe literacy difficulties. 
  • Late Blossoms Programme(The Nwar Programme): a family literacy programme for students and their parents, especially designed for parents with children with severe reading and writing (learning) difficulties
  • My Ability Programme (Klabb Ħilti): is an after-school family literacy and educational programme that aims to complement and reinforce school-based teaching and learning
  • Hand in Hand (Id f'Id) Parent Empowerment Programme: this initiative includes three projects, home-based educational discussions and hands-on activities with parents: the Parent-to-Parent Meetings Project, the Parent-to-Parent Courses Project, and the Community Literacy Outreach Project
  • The Malta Writing Programme: helps parents to nurture their children's creative writing skills, and to develop their own literacy skills. The emphasis for children is on creative writing
  • A Book is a Treasure (Ill-Ktieb): is a Bookstart-type pilot project which was launched in 2007. The project gifted book packs to children aged 2-3 years when their parents registered them for school

Netherlands

Poland

  • 4 Seasons of the Book Festival: this is the biggest Polish literary festival. 
  • Children's Literature information centre: supports the dissemination of reading among children in co-operation with children's libraries and other institutions. 
  • Foundation ABCXXI the Whole Poland reads to Children (Fundacja ABCXXI Cała Polska czyta dzieciom): is a programme encouraging adults to take up the habit of everyday reading to their children. The Foundation also develops other activities, such as the organisation of book donations for youth and child centres or large-scale campaigns to support libraries. 
  • Spelling Competition – Great Painting of Spelling (Konkurs Ortograficzny Wielkie Malowanie Ortografii): this aims to show adults pupils' problems with reading and writing, to promote new teaching methods and inspire teachers to prepare their own didactic projects.
  • Day of free speech therapy diagnosis (Dzień Bezpłatnych Diagnoz Logopedycznych – DBDL): aims to provide easy access to professional diagnosis for people with speech impediments, to disseminate speech-therapy related knowledge and consultation, and to solve problems related to verbal communication. 

Portugal

  • Story Time (A Hora do Conto): story reading for children in hospitals.
  • Growing and Reading (Crescer a Ler): is a Portuguese Bookstart initiative to promote literacy skills and reading habits in the family context. 
  • The Storyteller(O Contador de Histórias): is a group that combines reading with an artistic component. The group reads stories, prose and poetry, and recitals to children, adults and the elderly. Performances take place in schools, libraries, companies, hospitals and prisons.
  • Reading with you (Projecto Ler Consigo): launched in 2004, in this project teachers and students invite a community member to read a text to the class. The texts can be read in Portuguese or in the mother tongue of the invitee, in which case it will be followed by a translation. The students may also read a text of their choice to the invitee.

Slovakia

  • In co-operation with the  National Enlightenment Centre, Regional Enlightenment Centres, Regional Education Authorities (Národné osvetové centrum, Regionálne osvetové centrá, Krajské školské úrady): since 1960 they have organised the ongoing National competition in children and artistic recitation of prose and verse– Hviezdoslavov Kubín(Celoštátna súťaž v detskom a umeleckom prednese prózy a poézie – Hviezdoslavov Kubin): a competition of prose and verse recitals and literary texts readings, supporting the development of the culture of language, reading, literary values and creativity.   
  • A joint project calledBookmark brings schools together(Záložka do knihy spojuje školy): for primary as well as secondary school pupils in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which brings different schools from both countries together as they exchange the bookmarks students create themselves and, as such, they support the reading habits of pupils. 
  • A competition for the most interesting school library event for the International Day of School Libraries (Súťaž o najzaujímavejšie podujatie školskej knižnice k Medzinárodnému dňu školských knižníc): this supports activities that strengthen a strong and long-lasting relationship between pupils and their books, their school library, reading and exploring knowledge of new things. 
  • UNICEF  (Children's Safety Line)(Linka detskej istoty): Let's read … (Čítajme si ...): is a reading marathon organised in co-operation with the Slovak library association.
  • Osmijanko(Osmijanko, n.o.); We read with Osmijanko – join us! (Čítame s Osmijankom – pridaj sa aj ty!): a project that supports reading literacy and raising the language culture of pupils in primary schools by running a national reading competition in which other important stakleholders, public figures and professional institutions also take part (museums, libraries, galleries, theatres, etc.).
  • BIBIANA International House of Art of Children;Book culture (Knižná kultúra): this is a section which runs various competitions and other actions to support reading literacy and creativity among children.  
  • MURO' s reading room (Murova čitáreň): is an on-line portal promoting children's literature and activities in the field of children literature.
  • Literárne múzy: is an online portal which informs on various literary competitions and actions to support anyone who is interested in taking part.
  • Young scientist(Mladý vedec) is a magazine for lower-secondary and secondary school pupils, focusing on topics related to science and technology; it organises a competition each year called "Comprehensive reading" (Čítanie s porozumením) which supports pupils in reading, understanding and information gathering in various topics related to science and technology.

Slovenia

  • Slovene Reading Badge Society (Društvo Bralna značka Slovenije): is an important cultural and educational movement aimed at developing reading habits and reading culture among children and young people. It involves pre-schools, primary schools and a smaller number of secondary schools.
  • Reading and Writing together (BIPS-Beremo in pišemo skupaj): projects to promote reading and writing in everyday family situations. Parents are informed of the importance of literacy, and children are stimulated to read in an entertaining way.
  • Reading for knowledge and pleasure (BZZ-Branje za znanje in zabavo): a programme promoting family literacy. It is primarily intended for parents and grandparents of pre-school children (aged 4 to 6) who want to learn how to promote literacy and reading culture among children. 

Spain

  • Leer.es: web-portal directed at children, parents and teachers. Provides support and a wide range of materials, activities and good-practice examples to support reading development in childhood and adolescence. 
  • Promotion of reading habits in schools (Fomento del hábito lector en centros docentes): conference series with Spanish writers of different genres, organised in secondary schools and universities in order to bring today's literary creation closer to students and promote their reading habits, encouraged by the authors' vision of their own work.
  • Reading Project for Schools (Projecto de Lectura para Centros Escolares): supports schools which want to develop a reading programme.
  • Bibliometro: library in Madrid metro. 
  • Hay Festival Segovia: international literary festival. 
  • Mandarache Programme(Programa Mandarache): fosters reading skills and reading habits through several activities such as the Youth Literary Hache Prize (Premio Hache de Literatura Juvenil; 12-14 years old), the Young Reader Mandarache Prize (Premio Mandarache de Jóvenes Lectores; 15-30 years old). 
  • 'MaríaMoliner' Competition (Concurso 'María Moliner'): national competition between municipalities (under 50 000 inhabitants) for the best project/activity developed in libraries to promote reading among children and youth. 

Sweden

United Kingdom