INTRODUCING “IMPROVE: PREVENTING LOW READING INTEREST”

The project, its inspiration and the partnership

Coordinated by the Spanish organisation FUNDACION XUL, IMPROVE is developed together with 7 international partners:

• SMART IDEA (Slovenia)
• Associazione InCo (Italy)
• CODEC (Belgium)
• Second Gymnasium "7 Marsi" (North Macedonia)
• Colegio Séneca S.C.A. (Spain)
• JumpIN Hub (Portugal)
• CEBDER (Turkey)

The project started on the 1st of November of 2021 and will last two years, ending on the 1st of November of 2023. The idea of developing this project came after realising that, according to survey and research, children today read less frequently than any previous generation and enjoy reading less than young people did in the past. 

A survey to be published by the National Literacy Trust in the run-up to World Book Day, shows that in 2019 just 26% of under-18s spent some time each day reading. This is the lowest daily level recorded since the charity first surveyed children’s reading habits in 2005. It also found that fewer children enjoy reading, and that this dwindled with age: nearly twice as many five to eight-year-olds as 14 to 16-year-olds said they took pleasure from reading. Overall, just 53% of children said they enjoyed reading “very much” or “quite a lot” – the lowest level since 2013. The survey found a marked gender divide when it comes to reading for pleasure: less than half (47%) of boys were keen readers, compared with 60% of girls. A third of children surveyed reported being unable to find things to read that interested them.

The objectives and the expected results 

Given current political concerns about reading and the obvious benefits of reading for pleasure, it is critical that more emphasis be placed on reading enjoyment both at school and at home. IMPROVE’s main objective is therefore that of finding new and innovative methods to increase the interest of young people in reading.

More specifically, project’s expected results and long-term benefits are the following:

1. Developing teacher' skills & competences for helping students develop better reading and comprehension;
2. Raising students’ awareness of how reading is fostering learning skills;
3. Increasing verbal and writing skills;
4. Increasing imagination and creativity;
5. Develop a love for reading & encourage digital reading
6. Improving IT skills through the usage of multimedia tools

Activities and Intellectual Outputs (IO)

The project set 4 IOs to be implemented throughout the project:

1. A “Manual of Good Practices”: 50 good practices from across Europe to involve young people in book reading;
2. A campaign on ‘How to Promote Book Reading': In order to increase its effectiveness, this campaign will make use of current reading trends and applications. During the promotional campaign, a teacher training event will be held  to successfully implement the reading campaign into schools; 
3. A Learning/Teaching Training on developing reading skills: a 5-days training course for teachers/educators/facilitators that will give them the knowledge and tools necessary to promote reading into schools and youth centres;
4. Policy recommendations for local governments.

Besides these Intellectual Outputs, 3 Transnational Partner Meetings will be held in partner countries and Multiplier Events will also be developed, one in each partner country, to present the project’s activities and results to the local community. A final conference, to be held in one of the partner countries, will represent the conclusion event of the project.

Here you can find the link to the project’s webpage: www.improveproject.org