Tirana Times
It’s a well-known fact that reading enhances cognitive development and if pursued avidly, reveals broad horizons to readers. Indeed, since an approximate age of 5 or 6, children begin their entry into the literary world and are pushed to develop their reading skills throughout their formal education. Yet, as Catherine Campell, vice director of a new non-governmental organization called Literacy Initiatives which aims to begin operations in Albania next year, the simple ability to read is not enough and should not be considered the sole adequate measure against which an education is measured.
“Of course, it is critical that children learn to read in school. But yet more critical is establishing a desire to read. Learning to actually enjoy reading and to actively pursue it beyond what is required in school is a totally different element that many school systems are neglecting. The unfortunate consequence of this is then that children can read, but their talent goes to waste,” she explains.
Though such a statement may seem surprising, Campbell continues by explaining that the real value in reading does not lie solely with being able to read street signs, magazines, directions and other texts that come up in daily activities. Instead, she states that children should also seek out the creative ideas, thought-processes and imagination that permeate the world of books.
“It is these elements that ultimately shape a person’s brain. If one is an avid reader their mind becomes richer and more creative, since it is exposed to a much wider variety of material than a non-reader. This in turn allows the person to think outside the box, be proactive and come up with greater solutions to daily problems,” Campbell adds.
So why Albania?
“If one takes a walk through towns and cities in Europe, the United States and other developed countries, one will quickly become aware of the immense availability of appealing books and reading settingsנwhether they be bookshops, libraries or other creative centers. In Albania (and many neighboring countries) it is rather difficult to find these commodities. You will only find books if you actually seek them out. But how can avid reading outside of the school system be facilitated if it is a hobby made difficult to pursue? To promote an initiative like this, books should be jumping out at children and young adults. Reading should be appealing, and they should have an appealing place to enjoy it.”
Though the prospect of large, modernized book centers may seem like more of business initiative rather than one for development, Campell insists that Literacy Initiative’s ultimate goals are those of development. She reasons that a generation of avid readers will also result in a generation of critical thinkers and consequently more capable future leaders. With this idea in mind, Campbell hopes to guide Literacy Initiatives into its preliminary stages of establishment in Albania sometime next year. Once established, the NGO will work to develop modernized reading centers and book shops in both urban and rural areas of the country. They will also collaborate with translators to increase the availability of foreign texts in Albanian.
“After all, reading would be a natural fit with the large “coffee culture” in Albania. What could be better than sipping an espresso and immersing oneself in a fantastic text?” Campbell concluded with a smile.
