Kristenn Einarsson said: An enlightened citizen is a reading citizen. It is an absolute prerequisite for our continuation of democracy that we enhance our efforts to promote reading. Reading must be defined in the broadest sense and includes reading, interpreting, and evaluation skills, as well as an understanding of source criticism. The aim is not only that one reads but also is able to find information, knowledge, and ideas, and reflect on their origin and value.
The initiative builds on the Ljubljana Manifesto, which was supported by IPA and launched at Frankfurt Book Fair in 2023 where Slovenia was Guest of Honour. The project involves key academic centers for reading and publishing studies, organizations working in the field of reading promotion and democracy building, school leaders, teachers and students, producers of content for formal and non-formal education and media and will connect to other activities globally. One of the aims of the project is to develop better cooperation between all the stakeholders involved in promoting democratic training, formally and informally.
The first project will be “CELEBRATE, A spearhead approach to celebrate young people’s reading” planned to be launched November 1st, 2025. The partners are currently seeking funding from Erasmus+. A second project is planned and will be submitted to a Horizon Europe call this autumn. Launch is planned in 2026.
The initial partners are: GSR Foundation, Spain. Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany. OsloMet University, Norway. Škrateljc, Slovenia. University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and World Expression Forum, Norway.