On Wednesday, June 10, the official launch of the Frisian-language version of ‘Wie leest heeft een goed verhaal’ (Whoever reads has a good story) took place at Bookstore De Grote Beer in Franeker. This first multilingual branch of the national awareness campaign is a collaboration between the (national) Leescoalitie and Fries Leesoffensief.
During the launch, Afûk Director Alex de Jager, Stichting Lezen Director Tamar van Gelder, Children’s Book Ambassador Linda de Haan, and Femke van Seijen all spoke. Van Seijen is not only the (young) owner of De Grote Beer but also a “Lettergek”: an ambassador for Fries Leesoffensief. Together with Bodil Stelwagen, project leader of Fries Leesoffensief, they spoke about the importance of reading and multilingualism. Stelwagen: “As Fries Leesoffensief, we consider it very important that reading is attractive and accessible to everyone. No matter what language you read in or what budget you have. That is why, in our communication regarding the campaign, we include not only bookstores and libraries, but also, for example, second-hand bookshops.” The campaign will later be expanded to include schools in collaboration with libraries.
The message of the multi-year campaign is: reading enriches, connects, and inspires. This aligns with the objectives of both the Leescoalitie and Fries Leesoffensief. In both cases, it involves a collective of organizations committed to stimulating reading pleasure and improving reading skills. It concerns reading movements with a ripple effect at both the national and provincial levels. Stelwagen: “These movements overlap and reinforce each other. This becomes very visible with this literal translation of the national campaign!”
For ‘Wa’t lêst hat in goed ferhaal’, posters incorporating reading insights were developed at the start. The extensive online toolkit – which is accessible via wieleestheefteengoedverhaal.nl – contains even more variants. The website friesleesoffensief.nl contains information about how you can join the Frisian reading movement, both as an organization and as an individual.
In the photo: Tamar van Gelder and Alex de Jager (Marc de Fotograaf)
