The session brought together participants and representatives from several countries, including representatives from the (UNRWA), creating a valuable space for exchanging experiences and perspectives on promoting reading within different educational and community contexts.
During the session, Dr. Dajani discussed how reading aloud can go beyond being an educational activity and become a starting point for fostering a love of reading among children, empowering individuals, and encouraging community-led initiatives involving teachers, parents, and children themselves.
The discussion also explored practical ways for schools to begin reading activities even with limited resources, while maintaining reading as an enjoyable experience rather than turning it into another form of assessment. Participants also discussed the importance of involving children and families in decision-making and strengthening local ownership and leadership.
Another key focus was understanding and measuring the impact of reading initiatives. The session highlighted practical indicators such as the regularity of reading sessions, children’s access to stories, their engagement and enjoyment, their choices, and their willingness to return for future reading activities.
The dialogue further addressed themes including confidence, empathy, curiosity, inclusion, family and community engagement, and the sustainability of reading initiatives.
The participation of representatives from different countries and organizations, including UNRWA, enriched the discussion by bringing together experiences from diverse educational and community settings and exploring how reading can serve as a tool for empowerment, participation, and positive change.
Dr. Dajani’s participation reflects the mission of We Love Reading to foster reading for pleasure, empower individuals to become changemakers in their communities, and transform simple local initiatives into sustainable opportunities for learning, participation, and community impact.