IBBY-Yamada 2024: Egypt

IBBY-Yamada 2024: Egypt
Capacity Building in Basic Library Management and Reading Promotion Skills in Al Asmarat, New Cairo

This pilot reading promotion initiative in Al Asmarat, a resettlement community in New Cairo, aims to improve literacy and critical thinking among displaced and impoverished children by building the skills of teachers, parents, and coordinators in reading promotion and library management. The project was implemented in partnership with the NGO Khair and Barakah and local educational experts.

Under the banner The Weaving of Tales, the project featured intensive training workshops for 24 volunteers, educators, and parents. These included the "Talk, Write, Draw" workshop series, which focused on storytelling techniques, story composition, and visual storytelling. A group of trained facilitators then led over 75 children through collaborative book-creation sessions, encouraging them to author and illustrate their own stories.

Parallel workshops engaged mothers in reading awareness and the value of storytelling at home, while additional sessions, led by Dr. Shahira Khalil, editor-in-chief of Samir magazine, involved 45 children in educational competitions and drawing activities.

The Asmarat Library was significantly enhanced through the purchase of 500 new books and improvements to its physical infrastructure, creating a space for monthly reading activities and sustained community engagement. The project culminated in a public celebration where participants showcased their creative work and received recognition for their involvement.

By providing high-quality training, enriching library resources, and fostering a culture of reading, the project reached over 300 children and laid the groundwork for scalable, community-led literacy initiatives in Egypt.