THE LIBRARY PROJECT, KOSOVO

The Library Project in Kosovo (TLP Kosova), was started in 2017 by several women who came to Sweden from Kosovo as child refugees. The focus is on children in Kosovo gaining better reading skills and reading comprehension. The project provides schools with books translated into Albanian from Swedish or English. These are children's books by, among others, Astrid Lindgren, which are easy to read and can give children the opportunity to understand what is happening in the world and to think critically. The method is based on the children reading themselves or the teacher reading to the class. Afterwards, the book and its content are discussed according to a specific structure to encourage reading comprehension and independent thinking. The project also establishes "circulating libraries" in different municipalities where schools can borrow multiple copies of the same book so that the whole class can read the same book at the same time.

SAS YOU ASSIST helped to build a circulating library in the city of Mitrovica, where about 15 schools can use it. The books have different subjects and orientations, and focus is on equality, everyone's equal value and environmental awareness. The children read on their own and the topic is discussed afterwards.

According to a OECD PISA survey, 15-year-olds in Kosovo are far below average in literacy and reading comprehension. There is no tradition in schools of reading aloud, and teaching is conducted in a very old-fashioned way. The project also involves the municipalities in Kosovo. The project also uses the "train the trainer" method to spread knowledge to more teachers and more schools.

The SAS YOU ASSIST board visited the project in the fall of 2022. A visit was made to the library in Mitrovica, where the circulating library is housed. We also visited a school that uses the library and the method. We met several teachers and children who were very satisfied with their access to the books.

TLP Kosova has plans to expand its operations by building a library in the capital city of Pristina, in a youth center that is under construction. SAS YOU ASSIST has contributed funds for the purchase of books for the library.