On August 6, the IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award Ceremony took place, sponsored by the Shenzhen iRead Foundation of China. The 2026 laureates were announced as Kirsten Boie from Germany and Namita Jacob from India. Kirsten Boie was recognized for her decades of advocacy as a renowned author and founder of the Möwenweg Foundation, which supports sustainable reading education in Germany and Eswatini through her "BOOKCRAZY" initiative. Namita Jacob was honored for her pioneering work in disability inclusion as the Program Director of the Chetana Trust in Chennai, where she has developed accessible reading materials and assistive technologies for children who are visually impaired, deaf, or deafblind.
In her acceptance remarks, Namita Jacob emphasized that investing in people is the most effective way to sustain literacy initiatives, highlighting her conviction that inclusive education must be community-driven and evidence-based.
Kirsten Boie, in her recorded address, spoke to the responsibility authors hold toward their readers, describing her work in Africa and Europe as a commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity for self-realization through literature.
The ceremony included greetings from Xinting Li, representing the Shenzhen iRead Foundation, whose continued partnership has been instrumental in highlighting the unsung heroes of reading promotion globally.
The following day, August 7, marked the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award Ceremony, sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun media group of Japan. The 2026 award was presented to the LINKS Philippines Hooked on Books Program, represented by its founder and CEO, Maria Consuelo Doble. The jury praised the program for its unique, community-owned model that integrates literacy with cultural identity and civic engagement. By establishing libraries in underserved areas and training local volunteers, LINKS has reached over 21,600 children, transforming reading into a joyful and empowering experience that fosters empathy and social responsibility.
In her acceptance speech, Maria Consuelo Doble articulated the vision of LINKS as a holistic ecosystem where teachers, parents, and local leaders become literacy champions, ensuring the sustainability of the project through shared ownership.
Daisuke Nakai, American General Bureau Chief of the Asahi Shimbun, delivered greetings during the ceremony, reaffirming the media group’s decades-long commitment to supporting innovative reading projects that leave a lasting impact on communities worldwide.
Both ceremonies underscored the diverse approaches required to promote reading in the 21st century, from high-tech accessibility solutions to grassroots community mobilization. IBBY extends its deepest gratitude to the Shenzhen iRead Foundation and the Asahi Shimbun media group for their unwavering support in giving recognition to these essential efforts to bring books and children together.
