Founded in 2013, Diavazontas Megalono is an interdisciplinary non-profit organization, whose mission is: a) to raise public awareness on reading and literacy in Greece, b) to facilitate the creation of a more stimulating reading environment that will inspire children to evolve into motivated, engaged and skilled readers, and c) to mobilize public authorities to adopt policies aimed to provide more reading opportunities to all children, especially those belonging in vulnerable groups.

Taking into account the total absence of public reading policies for babies and toddlers in Greece, Diavazontas Megalono focused in raising awareness on the benefits of reading to children since birth, organizing: a) public events on the importance of early literacy (since 2014), b) training courses for health professionals on the importance of reading for children’s linguistic, emotional, cognitive and social development (since 2015) and c) reading events for children and families (since 2015).

Diavazontas Megalono has also focused in highlighting the importance of library services for children 0-5 years old and was actively involved in the establishment of the first Library for Babies and Toddlers in Greece, offering gratis its know-how in all subjects concerning the library (design of space, furnishing and equipment, safety, collection development, training of the staff).

Despite its restricted economic resources, Diavazontas Megalono is an active and extroverted organization with a wide range of activities aimed to highlight the importance of reading for pleasure and the key role that books can play in a child’s life.