Stephanie Temborius, Head of the Catholic Family Education Center, described the reading project as a "real model for success", which has been making an important contribution to sustainable reading promotion in Salzgitter for 20 years.
Barbara Henning, deputy director of the city library, thanked the reading mentors for the great commitment with which the volunteers read aloud in daycare centers and elementary school.
Christian Striese, Second Mayor of the city of Salzgitter, congratulated on behalf of the Mayor, the City Council and the administration and paid tribute to the 20 years of cooperation between the Catholic Family Education Center and the Salzgitter City Library and the volunteers.
"Today's anniversary celebration focuses on the 25 committed reading mentors who dedicate themselves to reading in Salzgitter, which is so important for the little ones and, of course, for us adults too," said Christian Striese. He also thanked the cooperation partners and project managers Inessa Schönberger (Catholic Family Education Center) and Vasiliki Treskas (City Library).
Reading enables people to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of literature, he said. "Reading aloud is particularly valuable because it creates a very special connection between the reader and the listener. When people read aloud, they not only share a story, but also their time, attention and affection. Reading aloud creates an atmosphere of shared experience and togetherness. It awakens the joy of reading and promotes children's language development. Reading aloud is a valuable tradition that should be passed on from generation to generation," said the Second Mayor.
Christian Striese paid tribute to the volunteers who give their time and attention to the children. "They help our children acquire reading skills and develop a love of reading and books. They are role models who show that reading is enriching and a valuable tool for exploring and understanding the world," he emphasized
This commitment leaves its mark on the hearts and minds of the "reading children".
This was also confirmed by Eckart Herr, who has been a reading mentor from the very beginning and looked back on the beginnings of the project. He had read to his children and grandchildren, which had been enriching for him and motivated him to get involved as a reading mentor for 20 years. The love of books and reading is the unifying element for the volunteers, who regularly exchange ideas.
His thanks went to the children, who greet him every week with great cheers, draw pictures and give him presents or first have to agree who can sit next to him while he reads... "That's pure happiness," said Eckart Herr.
He also thanked the daycare centers and elementary school that invite the reading mentors to parties or excursions and thus welcome them into their community.
His special thanks went to project manager Vasiliki Treskas, who set up the project at the city library 20 years ago, as well as Inessa Schönberger from the family education center, who oversees the project for the Catholic family education center.
After an entertaining program by the improvisation theater Martin Schampera and friends and vivid hands-on exercises by Vasiliki Treskas, those responsible thanked the reading mentors for their voluntary commitment, which brings joy into the lives of the children. More interested people would be desirable in order to inspire many children in all daycare centers and elementary school with reading aloud.