Amman – The conference “The Supernova: Twenty Years of We Love Reading” launched on Saturday at the Al Hussein Cultural Center in Amman. The event marks the culmination of a twenty-year journey during which the We Love Reading program has successfully transformed reading for pleasure into an effective tool for social change.
In her opening remarks, the program’s founder, Prof. Rana Dajani, explained that the conference title “The Supernova” was inspired by the astronomical concept of a supernova, an immense stellar explosion that spreads its energy and light across the universe.
She added: “The title reflects the spread of the program over the past twenty years. It began as a small spark and then grew into a powerful source of light spreading from one person to another, from child to child, and from community to community. We do not seek to be a center that monopolizes knowledge; rather, we aim to ignite the spark within every individual so that ea
ch person becomes a source of light in their own community.”
Prof. Dajani also emphasized that the program’s ambassadors are the heartbeat of We Love Reading, stating: “Every ambassador in We Love Reading is like a small sun spreading light around them. When someone reads to a child, they are not only giving them a story, but also opening a world of imagination, thinking, and the ability to dream.”
The opening session also featured remarks by Dr. Salem Al-Daham, representative of the Jordanian Ministry of Culture, who stressed the importance of community programs and initiatives and the continued role of We Love Reading in creating positive impact in society. He also highlighted the contribution of cultural initiatives to advancing the cultural landscape, affirming that the Ministry of Culture remains open to projects that aim to create meaningful impact and change.
The conference included ambassadors from Ajloun, Karak, and other governorates across Jordan, including those who joined the program in 2009, alongside partners, founders of reading initiatives in Jordan, and former We Love Reading staff who contributed to the program since 2008. Participants also joined digitally from several countries around the world, celebrating two decades since the program’s establishment.
The conference included dialogue sessions and interactive discussions. It also celebrated the launch of a new children’s book titled “Shells of Freedom,” which reflects the experiences of children in Gaza amid the ongoing genocide, as part of the program’s publications and in a step aimed at continuing to promote the love of reading among children.
The event also marked the launch of a new issue of the We Love Reading Magazine, published periodically under the title “We Love Reading: Behind the Scenes.” During the conference, Prof. Dajani also honored Dr. Yahya Aishan, a member of the program’s Board of Directors.
The event witnessed wide engagement and participation from initiative leaders and civil society organizations, in addition to the program’s ambassadors who shared their experiences with the program and its values.
The conference aims to highlight the transformation created by the program and how a spark of individual knowledge can grow into a broad community movement, enabling every individual to become a catalyst for change through reading.
It also represents a milestone celebrating a twenty-year journey during which a simple initiative evolved into a global movement that believes reading is not merely a skill, but a way of life capable of igniting change in communities.
Related Conference Materials are included below:
