Reading and Media Clubs

Equal Opportunities for Children from a non-academic Background by fostering the
Verbal, Reading and Media Competencies and Social Integration.

Reading and Media Clubs: A Recreational Opportunity to Foster Reading and Integration

Strategic Goals of the Reading and Media Clubs:

Improve equal opportunities to education for children from socially disadvantaged families!
Further the verbal and reading skills of children from a non-academic background!
Provide developmental opportunities for children with respect to the growth of their creative potential!
Foster inter-cultural dialogue to drive social integration in Germany, and contribute to the overcoming of prejudice!

Conclusion: Improvement of cultural and social opportunities for participation in the social sphere!

Reading and Media Clubs: A Recreational Opportunity to Foster Reading and Integration

What are Reading and Media Clubs?

The Reading and Media Clubs …

… are meeting places at schools, libraries, and other institutions, where regular, extra-curricular, recreation-focused opportunities are provided to children (at least once a week).
… are particularly intended for children from socially deprived families – and often from a migration background – who may be disadvantaged in the educational system.
… provide a mixture of books, cartoons, newspapers/magazines and multi-media content, which the children may select according to their interests and wishes, to further the engagement with the various media.
… are based on the scientific insight that the peer group may be an influential factor for educational processes amongst children of the same age group.
… attract their members primarily by advertising in the school surrounding: public notice on the black board, announcements in school lessons etc., word of mouth advertising.
… receive educational advice from a teacher, social worker, or voluntary staff.

Reading and Media Clubs: A Recreational Opportunity to Foster Reading and Integration

What do Reading and Media Clubs do?

The Reading and Media Clubs …

… motivate children to engage with print, audio-visual and digital media to stimulate their cognitive and learning abilities, as well as strengthen their reading skills.
… provide an impulse for creative activity with the various media, which are important for the development of the imagination and personality of the children.
… improve the social competency of the members with the group structure of the club; this is a vital “soft skill” for interaction in the educational and professional career.
… by encouraging club visitors of German and foreign origin to mix, social integration and mutual tolerance is fostered, whilst simultaneously preventing and reducing prejudice.
… permit the important interpretation process following reading and media experiences due to the group structuure and educational supervision, which does not take place in many families any longer, and cannot be performed in school lessons due to time constraints.
… may conduct events within and outside of the club venue (book rally, reading night, etc.) to arouse curiosity and passion for reading.
… create a club atmosphere, where the club members identify themselves with their environment individually an as a group: “This is our club!”

Reading and Media Clubs: A Recreational Opportunity to Foster Reading and Integration

Support of the Reading and Media Clubs:

1. Engagement of Stiftung Lesen [Reading Foundation] (project financed by sponsors):

Provision of the basic equipment and a starter package of print, audio-visual and digital media, as well as hardware and software elements.
Supply of material for reading and media education (methodological-didactic information, media recommendations, organisational aids)
Organisation of events for advanced training and exchange of experience for club staff
Central support of the club throughout the year by means of club news, information, support in case of problems etc.

2. Engagement of the Club Provider:

Guarantee of a minimum term of two years
Provision of appropriate rooms
Support of the club members by expert education staff (teachers, social workers, voluntary staff)
Annual creation of a short report regarding visitor numbers and usage patterns, project initiatives etc.
Nomination of the cooperation partners and sponsors.