Didactica Publishing House – EUR 40,000 investment in promoting reading in schools

Didactica Publishing House, an educational book and game publisher, announces the completion of the installation of 11 reading corners in 2023, spread across schools in Bucharest and various regions of the country. This action is part of a larger project called “100 DPH Reading Corners,” which aims to facilitate children’s access to reading and reflects the publisher’s commitment to continuously support the education and personal development of children by providing them with learning and exploration opportunities through books. In total, 18 reading corners and over 500 additional books have been donated to the project.

The reading corners provided by Didactica Publishing House are set up in dedicated spaces within schools or educational centers, ensuring easy access to books for children. For this reason, the furniture provided in the project is designed to promote reading and educational play activities.

The 100 books given to each reading corner in the first stage of the project are suitable for various ages and reading levels. They cover not only classic readings but also current and engaging topics that pique children’s interest in books and exploration, contributing to the development of emotional intelligence. Through this project, Didactica Publishing House aims to create a conducive environment for reading, encourage the joy of reading, and stimulate the development of communication and critical thinking skills.

“Books are not only sources of information and knowledge but also gateways to imagination and creativity. The benefits of reading for children are undeniable. Reading stimulates imagination, enriches vocabulary, enhances concentration and analytical thinking skills, and teaches children to empathize with characters and explore different perspectives. Through books, children can develop their cognitive and emotional abilities, gaining confidence in their own voice and worldview. Through this endeavor, we hope to inspire children to become passionate and curious readers”, said Florentina Ion, founder of Didactica Publishing House.

The 100 DPH Reading Corners project was launched last year, and in 2023, 11 schools have been selected and prepared for reading promotion activities. The 11 reading corners selected in 2023 are as follows:

• “Panait Georgescu” Primary School, Dobra, Dâmbovița
• “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Primary School – Information and Documentation Center, Baia Mare
• “Pavel Dan” Theoretical High School, Câmpia Turzii, Cluj
• Primary School No. 129 “Elena Farago,” Bucharest
• Udrești Primary School, Vâlcea
• Tămășoaia Primary School, Bacău
• Mihai Constantineanu Primary School, Dorobanți, Botoșani
• Felix Technical High School, Sânmartin, Bihor
• Primary School No. 1, Gurbediu, Bihor
• Murgești Primary School, Buzău
• “Principesa Elena Bibescu” Primary School, Bârlad, Vaslui.

Additionally, during this stage, two special prizes were awarded, each consisting of 100 books for two school libraries: “Remus Opreanu” Primary School No. 7 – Constanța and “Anișoara Odeanu” Primary School – Lugoj, Timiș.

“It’s a challenging journey, I admit, it’s hard to put into words, but what’s essential is my belief, as an educator: children read, they fall in love with books if they come as friends, as guides, as beacons for sailors and their boats. Moreover, children won’t forget them because they were there when needed most, in good times and bad,” said Adriana Iolu, an educator at “Panait Georgescu” Primary School, Dâmbovița, during the project application process.

“For me, the ‘DPH Corner’ project is a dream come true. For our school, this project represents an opportunity to bring students closer to books and develop their taste for recreational reading, to spark their curiosity, to discover new information in various fields. Our school’s students spend their breaks in this corner, reading, and this brings me immense joy,” mentioned Ioana-Marina Mărgărit, an educator at the Primary School in Murgești.

“The DPH Corner is a space that seems to gather the experiences and stories of all the characters from the gifted books. All children who love reading resonate with them in a special way, either during the workshops held here or during the breaks when anyone can come, pick up a book, and read! There are unwritten rules that the friends of the DPH Corner know and pass on. Creating this space meant, besides the opportunity it offers to children to come into contact with so many valuable educational books and games, joy, the development of efficient organization skills for shared spaces, care for the corner, responsibility, and interest in preserving all the gifts received,” shared Alisa Moraru, an educator at “Regina Maria” Primary School, Mănăstirea Cașin, Bacău, a beneficiary of the project in 2022.

A New Call for Projects, 5 More Beneficiaries

The investment in this project, to date, exceeds 40,000 euros. Didactica Publishing House is launching a new round of selection for 5 educational institutions to receive such a reading corner by the end of this year. Those interested in participating in this competition – whether educators or librarians – can apply based on their proposals for reading promotion activities in their respective spaces and ensure they have an adequate space to facilitate students’ access to books and reading activities. The competition is announced on the publisher’s Facebook page, here.

Based on the activities carried out by the winners, the coordinators of the reading corners will receive an additional 20-30 new titles from the publishers’ portfolio annually to keep the book offerings appealing to students.