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Project name
Reading Light (Leeslicht)

Brief description
With the project Reading Light, the Reading & Writing Foundation, in collaboration with Uitgeverij Eenvoudig Communiceren (Simply Communicating
Publishers) offers varied books for people who encounter difficulties with reading and writing. Existing books are retranslated into simple Dutch, in order for adults to read about subjects which appeal to them. The project Reading Light has as main goal the establishment of a structural offer of books in simple vocabulary. A significant step in this process is to stimulate as many publishers as possible to publish books in simple Dutch. The foundation then grants the name Reading Light, provided certain criteria are met.

Objectives

  • To lower the threshold to read for people who have difficulties with reading
  • Increase the familiarity with the scope of low literacy
  • A structural offer of Reading Light twice a year at a low retail and purchase price, through an easily accessible sales channel.
  • A successful communication campaign in the context of Reading Light

Partners

  • Uitgeverij Eenvoudig Communiceren (Simply Communicating Publishers)
  • Campina and JTI support the project financially through their membership of the Reading & Writing Foundation

Milestones

  • 2nd/3rd September 2007 Press presentation Leeslicht at Manuscripta.
    During Manuscripta, the festive opening of the book season, the Leeslicht series were presented officially to the gathered press. The new books have been written by reputed Dutch writers. Marjan Berk and Yvonne Kroonenberg have simplified their own works. By Kader Abdolah, existing stories were put in to simple Dutch.
  • 14th September 2007 Public presentation Leeslicht.
    The Week van de Alfabetisering (Literacy Week) was ended with the festive public presentation of a new Leeslicht book series. The public presentation took place in the central hall of the NS station Utrecht Centraal, hosted by Catherine Keyl. This was followed by signing sessions with Marjan Berk and Yvonne Kroonenberg who signed their Leeslicht books Een goede truc and Een echte man. Minister Ronald Plasterk of OCW received the first copies of the books in an official exchange by writer Marjan Berk.
  • 23rd/25th April 2007 Launch new Leeslicht book series.
    With amongst others a book by Daphne Deckers, Moeder worden, moeder zijn. Stichting Lezen & Schrijven has reserved 200 free copies for mothers of children born on World Book Day (23rd April 2008). Besides the book by Daphne Deckers, the book ‘Anne Frank, haar leven’ is published on 25th April by means of a press presentation at the Anne Frank house. Femke Halsema (parliamentary chairwoman GroenLinks) receives the first copy from Catherine Keyl. The third book published this week is ‘Het beste Nederlandse elftal van alle tijden’ by the well-known Dutch sports journalist Auke Kok, with illustrations by Dick Bruynesteyn.

More information
More information about this project can be obtained from Ilse Zandbergen-Pronk