Annual General Meeting 2024: An overview

The 2024 EURead Annual General Meeting (AGM) convened in Athens, the cradle of democracy, to explore the theme ‘Promoting Literacy in a Changing World.’ The event brought together 29 participants from 16 countries, including external guests and sponsors.

The meeting commenced with welcoming remarks from hosts Ava Chalkiadaki (Diavazontas Megalono) and Bettina Wenzel (Goethe-Institut Athen), followed by inspiring video messages from Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Andrew Kay, CEO of the World Literacy Foundation.

Dr. Jörg F. Maas, EURead Chair, then led attendees into productive discussions on the organisation’s Strategic Vision and its Statement on Reading and Literacy, ensuring the AGM stayed focused on its core mission from the outset.

Welcoming New Members

The afternoon session of the 2024 EURead AGM was dedicated to introducing four new member organisations:

• Kitabistan (Azerbaijan): Presented via a video message from Malak Khanim Hajiyeva, Chairperson of the Board.
• Universal Reading Foundation (Poland): Introduced by Maria Deskur, CEO.
• Ukrainian Book Institute: Presented by Daan Beeke, EURead Network Manager.
• Reading Foundation (Bulgaria): Introduced by Valentina Stoeva, Co-founder.

Focus on Reading Promotion in Greece

The AGM also featured a thought-provoking session titled “Reading Promotion in Greece: The Deficits of Public Reading Policies and the Leading Role of Civil Society.” Presented by host Ava Chalkiadaki with a touch of humour, the discussion highlighted the challenges faced by EURead members in their efforts to promote literacy. It left a lasting impression, sparking reflection on the vital role of civil society in addressing these deficits.

Special Guest Presentation

This year’s special guest, Prof. Adriaan van der Weel from Leiden University, delivered an engaging presentation on “Reading to Change Our Minds.” His thought-provoking insights offered a preview of his upcoming contribution to the Open Forum, adding depth and perspective to the AGM discussions.

Closing Session: Updates on Early Years Bookgifting

The meeting concluded with updates from the Global Network for Early Years Bookgifting, presented by Peter Jenkins and Emmi Jäkkö. Their insights offered valuable connections to EURead’s strategic planning, highlighting the alignment between early years initiatives and the organisation’s broader goals.

Leadership Transition

During the AGM, Gerlien van Dalen officially stepped down as Co-chair of EURead following her departure as Director of Stichting Lezen. Valentina Stoeva was unanimously elected as her successor and installed as the new Co-chair.

Exploring New Media in Literacy Promotion

Attendees engaged in discussions on new media issues. The session featured a presentation on the Fakeless programme by Nikoletta Stathopoulou from the Goethe-Institut and a warmly received presentation by Sonja Hoge from Onilo, highlighting innovative approaches to integrating media in literacy promotion.

Anne Bergman (FEP) chaired a session about Reading Promotion and Politics, where members were invited to share their thoughts, campaigns etc.

Open Forum on Literacy and Democracy

After the official closing of the AGM, attendees gathered once again at the Goethe-Institut for the Open Forum titled “Literacy and Democracy in the Era of Technology and Information: Facts, Challenges, Strategies.” The forum was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the City of Athens, with support from OSDEL. It provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the intersection of literacy, democracy, and the evolving landscape of technology and information.

After presentations and welcoming words by Angela Kaya (Director Goethe-Institut Athen), Eleni Zontirou (City of Athens) and Kostas Dardanos (OSDEL), moderator Prof. Maria Stratigaki led a discussion between the three keynote speakers: Prof. Venetia Apostolidou, Prof. Dr. Adriaan van der Weel and Marc Lambert. The forum was well attended by both EURead members and the general public. Special video was also sent by Andreas Schleicher – Director of Directorate “Education and skills”, OSCE.

The grande finale was the presentation of the EURead Statement on Reading and Literacy, presented by co-chair Diana Gerald MBE (CEO BookTrust UK).

Videos from the open forum: LINK

EURead Statement on Reading and Literacy in different languages: LINK