Belgium, Thailand, Argentina take multiple measures to promote reading for all
2025-04-23
April 23rd this year is the 30th World Book Day. In the current era of information overload and cultural diversity, reading remains an important channel for communication between people and the world. Reading is related to personal growth and the future of the country and nation. In recent years, many countries, including Belgium, Thailand, Argentina, and others, have attached great importance to universal reading education and actively carried out various forms of reading promotion activities to promote a good atmosphere of love for reading in the whole society, allowing more people to enjoy the pleasure of reading. Belgium - "Reading is not a task, but a habit, a pleasure of life." Many Belgian people's love for reading is developed from a young age and has become a lifelong topic. In many cities, the popularity of libraries even exceeds that of shopping malls and restaurants. People temporarily escape the hustle and bustle of life here, reading, thinking, and basking in the fragrance of books. Belgium has a sound library system, with libraries located in almost every residential area from national, municipal, district to community levels, and mostly located in areas with convenient public transportation for easy access by the public. Most libraries also provide free registration and borrowing services for readers under the age of 18. Children here can not only read and borrow books to their heart's content, but also participate in a variety of cultural activities. The weekly children's story event is one of the most popular activities in Belgian libraries. The librarians vividly explain picture books, or play musical instruments, or lead children to create picture books, with strong interactivity. The book author meet and greet event is also very popular, where readers can get up close to understand the stories behind the books and gain creative inspiration from them. Many libraries also have toy borrowing areas, providing puzzle toys such as puzzles and building blocks. Florence, the mother of a child, told reporters: 'We come to the library every Saturday, and my son often invites his classmates to read books together. He can always stay here for three or four hours, and finally borrow a few books and toys to go home. The library has become a social place for the children.' The reporter's two children attend a public elementary school in Belgium. The teacher will make a special note in the homework notebook after class: "Please read at least a few pages of the book every day. If you have time to read more, it's better if you don't have time to read one page." School teacher Vincent told reporters, "Our goal is to make children understand that reading is not a task, but a habit, a joy of life." In order to further stimulate children's reading enthusiasm, starting this year, this school has partnered with the community library to organize a "Reading Club" activity once a month. Children choose their favorite books to read within an hour and a half, and recommend them to their homeroom teacher. The teacher will share these books with the whole class during lunch break or before school to achieve reading sharing. The reporter noticed that children will carefully read through the recommended books and consult relevant background knowledge, striving to better answer students' questions during the sharing session. This reading method is no longer a single "personal reading", but an "interactive learning" that stimulates thinking and promotes communication. Through the support of library resources, guidance and education from schools, companionship and encouragement from families, and diverse cultural participation in society, Belgium cultivates reading habits in children from childhood in a rich, diverse, and respectful manner. Thailand - "Let More People Explore, Create, and Learn Outside of the Classroom" Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, held the "Bangkok Reading and Learning Festival" from March to May this year to encourage the public to read. During this period, public libraries, entertainment centers, and museums in Bangkok held various free activities, including storytelling and reading activities such as "Walking Library" in libraries, kindergartens, and primary schools. Bangkok Deputy Mayor Thanon Wangsrangben said, "We hope to create space for more people to explore, create, and learn outside of the classroom." Since 2019, the UNICEF Thailand office and the Office of the Basic Education Commission have jointly launched the "Make Every Child Read" project, and teachers have designed many creative activities based on students' interests and ages. Among them, the "Book Every Week" activity has revitalized the school library, and the "Put Down Homework, Read a Book" initiative encourages teachers and students to read together. Some Thai schools use their lunch break to have teachers take turns telling stories to students, or to have senior students design reading and Q&A activities for younger students. Some schools combine reading and performance to enhance students' interest in reading. To promote universal reading and reduce the gap in educational resources, Thailand has also launched many projects and activities in the donation and reuse of old books. In March of this year, Thai Prime Minister Petantan attended the "Read Again" national old book donation event held at the Prime Minister's Office, calling on the public to donate old books. Thai people actively participated in the "Read Again" campaign, receiving 6 million donated books in the same month, far exceeding the originally planned 1 million books. Thai company Shangtai Group has launched the "Book Delivery to Schools" project, planning to deliver books to primary and secondary schools across Thailand that lack book resources. At present, schools in places such as Chaiyeben, Shagongnakong, Sejun, and Dacheng have received books one after another. The UNICEF representative in Thailand, Jin Qingshan, stated that "some children from disadvantaged families cannot access more book resources. The 'Make Every Child Read' project focuses on distributing reading materials to children in areas with insufficient educational resources and supporting teacher training to help children develop reading habits and skills from an early age." It is understood that the goal of the project is to help 203 schools in 19 provinces across the country and benefit over 100000 children, enabling more children to read. Argentina - "It is important for children to become friends with books themselves, and books will accompany them for life." Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, has been named the "World Book Capital" by some institutions. According to official data, the city has over 800 bookstores, thousands of book kiosks selling paperback books, and occasionally hosts large-scale international book festivals. The per capita number of bookstores here has long been ranked first in the world, with an average of 25 bookstores per 100000 residents. The Buenos Aires International Book Fair, which began in 1975, is known as the "most important and largest annual literary event in the Spanish speaking world". The prosperity of Argentina's book industry is closely related to the people's love for reading habits and the richness of cultural life. Currently, social media and electronic platforms are increasingly dominating modern lifestyles, but many Argentinians have not lost their reading habits. When going out, they are always accustomed to bringing a book. Whether in coffee shops, parks, or on the subway, many people will take out books to carefully read. Reading, barbecuing, and watching plays were once known as the three most popular entertainment activities among Argentine people. When reporters gather with local friends, they often start the conversation with newly read books and chat for hours. Most people can avoid looking at their phones for a long time. Argentina has been promoting the National Reading Program for many years. This program usually invites local families to participate in reading activities in public places to create a reading atmosphere and social environment. The National Reading Program also provides training and support for teachers, librarians, and others to establish community reading networks and ensure that all citizens, especially children and adolescents, enjoy the right to read. Fernando, the editor in chief of a publishing house in Argentina, said, "The National Reading Program has been implemented for many years, striving to reflect its inclusive and public welfare nature. By supporting various platforms such as libraries, radio stations, schools, and communities, more people can easily access books, magazines, newspapers, etc., and develop reading habits." Buenos Aires "Palace of Freedom" is the venue for many official cultural events in Argentina, and "Queen Batata Children's Library" is a public library for children readers. At the Children's Cultural Hall of the Freedom Palace and the Queen Batata Children's Library, reporters encountered many children who were reading. Both reading venues are carefully equipped with soft cushions, low stools, hammocks and other devices for children. The walls are painted with childlike innocence, and various children's books and educational toys are scattered in every corner. In this environment, children integrate into the reading atmosphere with curiosity, exploration, and relaxation emotions. Each reading venue is accompanied by two or three teachers, but they do not disturb children's self exploration. Instead, they wait for children to ask questions before providing answers, guiding them through the process of reading and learning. On site teacher Amanda told reporters, "We just put the books in the right place, and if the children have any questions, we are willing to answer them at any time. The important thing is to let the children become friends with the books themselves, and the books will accompany them for life
Edit:Yi Yi Responsible editor:Li Nian
Source:people.cn
Special statement: if the pictures and texts reproduced or quoted on this site infringe your legitimate rights and interests, please contact this site, and this site will correct and delete them in time. For copyright issues and website cooperation, please contact through outlook new era email:lwxsd@liaowanghn.com