IBBY Yamada 2019: Afghanistan

IBBY Afghanistan: Book-making and reading culture workshops

Afghanistan lacks books and the required expertise for writing, editing, printing and then publishing books for youth and children. The aim of the project was to teach and practically show children, youth, creative writers, printing agencies and government officials, various techniques for editing, printing, publishing books and the establishment of a library. The first workshop was held in Kabul in April 2019 for 18 high level officials from the public sector, ministry officials and private sector experienced workers of printing and publishing agencies.

The second workshop, held also in April 2019, was for youths to focus on how to be a good readers and good listeners and become familiar with books as well as to encourage them to write their own stories that will eventually become part of a book to be shared with other children. The participants for the second workshop were 45 children, boys and girls, from formal schools, from IDP camps and children from the Aschiana main centre. The Mobile Library team was able to visit several locations and distribute books and tell the stories to the children at the IDP camps across Kabul: Nesaji Bagrami, Qala e Barqi, Charahi Qambar, Pul e Shina as well as public schools, juvenile rehabilitation centres, orphanages, kindergartens and Hewad Wal blocks. In total, the mobile library reached 655 children (313 girls and 342 boys). Community elders (Mullahs, representatives, teachers, religious leaders and social workers) were also invited to the mobile libraries, as they are essential to on-going support for the projects.

A full report on the project can be viewed here.