‘Lesespass’ Initiative Boosts Reading Fun In Gütersloh
One year after the launch of the “Lesespass” initiative to promote reading, 76 percent of Gütersloh’s parents say that their children “like to read books.” In 2010, the figure was just 68 percent among parents of 6- to 9-year-old girls and boys. This significant increase was revealed in an evaluation in July by the Stiftung Lesen reading foundation’s Institute for Research on Reading and the Media, which compared the present situation with the results of a survey carried out a year ago. There were also positive developments seen in the enthusiasm for reading among fathers in general and among parents from demographic groups that rarely read – the particular target groups at whom “Lesespass” is aimed. Bertelsmann AG had launched “Lesespass” in 2010 on the occasion of its 175th anniversary, as a gift to the city of Gütersloh.
Acting on the quantifiable achievements of the initiative, Bertelsmann and its two partners, the Stiftung Lesen reading foundation and the Goethe-Institut, have decided to continue the most popular activities to promote reading, beyond June 2012. (The “Lesespass” initiative was originally scheduled to run for two years, ending in June 2012). And the results will make it possible to even more specifically tailor projects to the needs of the respective target groups in the future.
‘The children visibly enjoy reading more’
“‘Lesespass’ has well exceeded our expectations. Gütersloh’s children visibly enjoy reading more now than they did a year ago – so as a media group we consider it a given that such a successful project be continued,” commented Bertelsmann’s Chairman & CEO Hartmut Ostrowski. “The achievements confirm our belief that in ‘Lesespass’ we have initiated a project that can serve as a model for other cities.”
“‘Lesespass’ has well exceeded our expectations. Gütersloh’s children visibly enjoy reading more now than they did a year ago – so as a media group we consider it a given that such a successful project be continued,” commented Bertelsmann’s Chairman & CEO Hartmut Ostrowski. “The achievements confirm our belief that in ‘Lesespass’ we have initiated a project that can serve as a model for other cities.”
The project’s distinctive feature is the concentration of so many complementary activities to promote reading in a given time and region. Sixteen projects have been implemented in Gütersloh to date. For instance, 2,000 families received “Lesestart” kits containing helpful reading-aloud hints for parents and free books for their children; about 100 volunteer “Read-out-loud mentors” were trained; and media reading clubs were set up at Gütersloh’s schools. A majority of children and parents in Gütersloh has already been exposed to the topic of reading through “Lesespass” promotions since the project began.
‘The project sends a signal for education policy’
The three project partners attribute the project’s proven success within such a short time to the close interlinking of “Lesespass” with local projects and committed protagonists of reading promotion in Gütersloh. “Gütersloh likes to read. That has become impressively clear over the past year with the ‘Lesespass‘ initiative,” says Gütersloh’s mayor Maria Unger, who also serves as patron of “Lesespass.” “Lots of colorful promotions, readings and a systematic encouragement of the children sent a ‘current of reading‘ through our city. I already look forward to a successful continuation in 2012.”
“Considering there are more than 7.5 million illiterates in Germany, promoting reading is an essential task,” says Jörg Maas, Managing Director of the Stiftung Lesen reading foundation. It’s good to have lots of projects in place – and vastly better if they are systematically interlinked. This is impressively proven by the ‘Lesespass’ initiative in Gütersloh: it is a concerted effort combining some 25 projects, which allows it to reach demographics that rarely read. The project sends a signal for education policy – and can serve as a blueprint for other cities and communities.”
“Education is the key resource of the 21st century and crucial to the future of our children,” adds Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of the Goethe-Institut. “Language and reading skills provide access to education and participation in what’s happening in the world. And what could be closer to our hearts than enabling our children to actively shape these processes with their multilingual abilities and other talents? ‘Lesespass’ offers a unique opportunity to get children and teens excited about reading. We even take unusual approaches such as theater workshops, or readings featuring pushups and rap music, to spark and encourage the joy of reading.”
