What?

The “two-book bag” offers parents from disadvantaged communities illustrated books for home, encouraging them to read to their children.

The pilot project, funded by Kaufland and implemented since 2019, was designed to educate poor parents on the benefits of reading with their little ones. Over 60 kindergarten teachers from Vrancea and Neamț counties participated in two training sessions and then organized in turn reading sessions for parents and young children in their kindergartens. Each participating teacher received a trainer kit and, on average, 5 “Two-bag bag” kits to offer to parents.

Volunteers (librarians, educators, teachers, social workers etc.) organized reading sessions with 1-2 years old children and their parents. After reading sessions, each child receives a bag with two picture books and a small toy suitable for this age category. Volunteers talk to parents about the advantages of reading aloud activities with children from the yearly age, encouraging them to read to children.

As a result of the project,  475 children together with parents have participated at reading sessions and have got picture books to take home; about 600 books donated to families from disadvantaged communities and 375 books were planned to be donated in February 2021. The project involved 100 volunteers (librarians) from 100 localitie, with more than 100 reading sessions organized.

Volunteers have been trained by OvidiuRo Association and „Ion Creangă” National Children’s Library on how to organize reading aloud sessions with small kids.

Parents have been told by the volunteers about the advantages of reading aloud to children from the early age and encouraged to read to children.

At the second reading of the book “From head to toe”, children had already begun to imitate the movements of animals. Parents showed interest and openness during the meetings; the atmosphere was relaxing, pleasant, constructive. We definitely produced some changes in the relationship with the children. Thanks for the opportunity! ” Mariana Vrabie, preschool teacher, Bălan Kindergarten, Harghita

Why?

Environmental protection projects are poorly developed in the libraries of Ukraine. There was a free premises in the Kyiv public library and the desire of librarians to start an educational project on nature protection. Together with the Charity “Library country” the joint project was established.

What Has Already Been Done:

• A fundraising campaign was launched on the community platform https://biggggidea.com/project/zelena-biblioteka/ and 1000 USD were already collected for purchasing the furniture
• Books on environmental topics were purchased thanks to the philanthropists
• Educational activities on environmental issues are carried out on the regular basis
• Partnerships with environmental initiatives have been established, and the library functions as a free platform for meetings, discussions, events

The New Space Will Include:

• Creative eco-design (natural colors, natural materials)
• Decor elements from recycled materials
• A selection of books and e-media on environmental topics 
• Thematic educational program
• Collaboration with eco-activists and initiatives

So what?

The Library is modern and active, well-known in the community and seeks to develop and deliver new services. Renovation & new design is almost done, and the space will be visually attractive and original and become the place of gravity for children, parents, eco-activists.

The local community is well aware of the project and is actively involved. The educational activities on environmental issues are carried out on a regular basis. The project is a pilote for Kyiv city and seen as the model for other libraries.

What?

Librarians are using technology to confront obesity in their community head on – and the kilos are rolling away as library users now regularly work out in the reading room. Be Fit Not Fat was launched in October 2012. Outreach through schools drew an enthusiastic response: 180 people attended exercise classes in the library, using Wii fitness consoles, and 43 seriously overweight teenagers and mothers joined an intensive programme. To make sure weight loss is lasting and safe, the library works closely with fitness specialists, doctors and nutritionists.

So what?

Be Fit Not Fat combines action with interaction. During physical exercise classes in the library, participants use a  Wii Fit Plus console. This is a video gaming console programmed for fitness training. The console transmits a moving image of a fitness trainer to a television screen. Exercisers then create their own exercise program by using a remote control device to manipulate the image of the trainer.

Participants in the intensive fitness and nutrition program have created a Facebook page and a lively blog, for sharing experiences, giving encouragement and celebrating weight loss. Using library computers, they consult nutritionists in the capital city, Bucharest, many kilometers away, via the online communication tool, Skype.

I look different, feel different, and my husband and child appreciate the difference! Without Pietrari Local Public Library I would not have succeeded! Ileana Nitu, 22 kilograms healthier

As part of this project, 43 offline workshops,  7 online regional conferences, 5 virtual visits in Taraclia, Telenesti, Comrat, Riscani, Soroca, and 5 online regional festivals were organized, involving 25 partners and 1300 beneficiaries

What?

The objectives of the project were:

• Favoring a context of knowledge of ethnic groups in the Republic of Moldova, through the values and policies of the European Union in the field of multiculturalism, multiethnicity, inclusion, minority rights, for at least 500 people, especially adolescents and young people from five districts during 2019-2020.
• Increasing the degree of involvement of community members in promoting the common values shared by the cohabiting ethnic groups in Comrat, Taraclia, Telenesti, Soroca, Riscani districts;
• Interethnic consolidation by increasing the visibility of the specifics and cultural similarities of the ethnic communities in the districts connected in the project

So what?

The participants accumulated valuable knowledge, about multiculturalism, the cohabiting ethnic groups in the Republic of Moldova, and about the policies of the European Union. They also realized the importance of multiethnic solidarity, passed it through the soul and materialized it in their own creations, presented at the Festival “On a Branch of Words”, which took place in August and was entitled generic “Multiethnic Moldova – we choose to live in harmony”.

Participating in the project made me understand and appreciate the Roma, whom I did not have very close to my soul. Now I have a Roma colleague, whom I received at work and I am very happy with.

The project reduced the social distance index by 3 units, as it raised the level of education, by familiarizing the beneficiaries with the multiple cultures in the country. Thus, the risk of conflicts, which regularly occur between ethnic groups and lead to violence that leads to destruction and damage, was reduced.

A Guide for the implementation of the library service “Multicultural Connections” was created, and it will serve as the basis for future replication in other regions. The continuity and sustainability of the project is also ensured by the generous book donation offered by the financiers for 5 public libraries and 10 social institutions: 5 Centers for children and 5 centers for the elderly.

What?

The library received additional space for communication, creativity, teamwork, family recreation, new furniture, games, flooring and more. The library users will be able to take advantage of all the benefits of the creative space to organize all kinds of activities, workshops, watching movies, art studios. 

Community unification was achieved by getting everyone’s support through the fundraising campaign to support the project.

So what?

In one of the districts of Poltava, a new free space for children and their parents was created, the uniqueness of which lies in its versatility. The project aroused the interest of many users and Poltava residents in particular, and many people from all over Ukraine joined the fundraising, which testifies to the interests in the idea and its necessity.

At the moment, as COVID 19 limited activities to the online environment, online events using several platforms (Facebook page, YouTube channel and Zoom platform) reached out to more than 500 patrons.

What?

Over 250 librarians were trained in organizing reading sessions with picture books for children ages 3 to 10 and on planning and hosting small STEM experiments connected with topics from the stories read.  Each library received a book package of 5 to 22 titles and illustrated books and support in developing their own activities. STEM topics addressed were explained in lay language and introduced in a fun manner making children excited about learning.

The 250 librarians from Romania and Moldova offered 2422 activities where 36640 kids participated and learned about topics like: animals, plants, natural phenomenon, shapes, colors, human body, chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Children asked their parents and teachers to come at the library to regularly participate in Ora sa STIM activities, Moreover the adults involved in children education started to be aware of the opportunity that STEM activities have in spending quality time with children and used the resources provided by this project: http://www.progressfoundation.ro/blog/ora-sa-stim/

Providing access to quality education is harder for children from rural areas. Our efforts in helping them enjoy learning and bringing resources closer to them is contributing to more chances for success

What?

6 librarians and 6 NGO representatives from the participatory 3 countries were trained about the practical principles of engaging communities in democratic decisions and community projects, as well as plan for the implementation of the citizens hub in their libraries. Then, the 6  community teams formed by librarians, local NGO representatives and citizens worked together, and opened Citizens Hubs – spaces for citizens to gather and work together towards being active citizens involved in their communities.

So what?

Through this project,  Vâlcea County Library developed new library services and programs aimed to support communities’ needs and to develop these communities: health education programs, programs that encourage women to develop their own business, volunteer programs to involve citizens in promoting cultural and historical objectives from their communities. 

What?

CODEKids clubs were open by public libraries in 150 communities where librarians facilitated free of charge learning of coding for middle school children. Two year curriculum was created and permanently adopted to the needs of the kids. Extra activities and gamification were included in the program. Regional Science fairs/CODEKids Fest events were organized so advanced children could work on projects and present them to the public.

So what?

More than 2300 participated in the Beginners group of CODEKids clubs and  879 of them went through also the Advanced group curricula. Dozens of them participated in open coding competitions at regional an d national level and won awards. Dozens of alumni of the project are part of the Robotics Team in their  high-schools. 

We provided access to quality and relevant education for children who have limited possibilities to break out of the underserved position of their families.

What?

The library got into partnership with NGO “ProFemeia” to carry out the Community Awareness Campaign which addresses perceptions and psychological barriers related to prejudice about women who stay at home. The Campaign is aimed at achieving a mentality change, reduction of psychological barriers related to prejudice, and increasing self-confidence, rediscover, recognise and empathise, and creating a democratic and friendly space for women.

The meetings were organized to women roles, opportunities to use new media for personal and professional development and even for earning some income. The closing activity of the campaign took place in the Library and was attended by successful women who will show-up their works, information materials, leaflets through an exhibition, thus urging women who are also in a difficult situation to follow them.

So what?

Over 45 women participated in the project activities – training, information, and communication campaigns. These women learned about the importance of involving women in decision-making, using new media as an opportunity in personal and professional development, how the hobby can bring income using new media and why successful women are role models.

Sinighin Lidia, a project participant, says: “Each of us can consider ourselves a successful woman, depending on how we perceive the concept of “success “. Lidia Petriciuc from Buciumeni shared: “I don’t consider myself a successful woman, but after today’s event I am more confident in myself and I can certainly say that I am a successful woman”.

In future, we will promote successful women from Ungheni district by hosting monthly exhibitions created by them. At the activity of the public Café “Successful women, models to follow” a schedule of exhibitions was drawn up and it was agreed that the librarian from the territorial libraries should also be directly involved by encouraging and supporting the ladies. The works will be exhibited in the exhibition showcases that will be created by the end of 2020 within the given project.

What?

30 public librarians were trained and later organized 30 workshops with 300 citizens from Gorj county. 

By building a network of 30 European information multipliers at the county level, public librarians became a bridge to the citizens. These multipliers were involved in the exercise of rights, simulation of voting process and recognition of the result in order to encourage the citizens in their communities to get involved in the voting process of the Elections for the European Parliament Members. They also learned how to deliver quality information about the EU and its communication policies and priorities and how to contribute to the promotion, protection and consolidation of democracy in their communities.

So what?

By the contribution of Gorj county public libraries, the turnout for the 2019 MEPs was higher than in the past. The project encouraged citizens to participate in the Elections for the European Parliament, to be part of the process of shaping the future of Europe and of our own country and the future of their communities, thus becoming active citizens who know that partnerships are the best way of achieving sustainable communities.