Children Literature Regional Programme, 2006-2009

On 2006, The Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between cultures, funded by Sida “Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency “ launched a three years regional programme to promote children's literature and reading in five Arab countries, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon.

Reading for fun is reading for development:

The programme aims at developing children literature and readings since children are on the core of the development. Reading helps the child to better know himself, his society and the whole world, it also helps in raising different life skills that guaranty his success and development in the future. Reading help the children to be developed and to develop their society.

The programme has a clear focus on children's books, developing the quality of children’s books, disseminating good quality books, it also aims to integrate the reading for pleasure in school’s curriculum in order to strengthen the intellectual, spiritual, moral and emotional development of children.

The programme targets all the sectors related to reading: teachers, librarians, publishers, writers, illustrators,  producers, distributors, media, universities, public association working in the field of children literature as well as related ministries and governmental institutions.

This regional programme is expected to stimulate activities in the different countries of the MENA region as regards children’s literature. Besides activities at the regional level a substantial part of the programme funding will be set aside for applications from network organisations in the respective countries. The present network is expected to grow at a rapid pace when the programme becomes known in wider circles.