The Successful Practices Honorees also include organizations from Pakistan and Afghanistan, along with 12 from various parts of the United States.
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program writes on its website that given the fact that less than 40 percent of Poland’s adult population have reported reading a book in the past 12 months, the Universal Reading Foundation set out on a mission to reduce a significant reading gap in Poland’s population.
“It relies on a coalition of people and organizations to support children and the people of Poland in building a more inclusive, democratic, successful, and happy society," the website says.
It adds that "Universal Reading Foundation works closely with teachers, librarians, pediatricians, and local administrative employees throughout the region to reach a wider constituency."
The effort serves "vulnerable refugee communities, low-income families, and those with reading and learning disabilities, providing relevant materials to each community based on its unique needs," according to the award website.
Katarzyna Konopka, a member of the foundation’s board, has told the media that the award from the US Library of Congress is proof that her NGO's activities are "of the highest world calibre."
The award "is a signal that we are heading in a good direction, of raising the level of book-reading in Poland," she said, mentioning a target of 70 percent of Polish adults reading at least one book every year.
Launched 12 years ago, Library of Congress Literacy Awards are given in a elaborate selection process in which the applicants have to present reliable evidence of how they contribute to raising awareness about the importance of reading.
The Universal Reading Foundation was established in 2018. It aims to raise the level of reading in Poland by reaching out to non-reading families. It involves various professional groups and initiates contacts between local governments, nongovernmental organizations and businesses.
The awards ceremony will be held at the US Congress in Washington on October 30.
(mk/gs)