Summer Campaign of Reading and Creativity 2023
This summer, they young friends of libraries get to know the books of grownups, the value of friendship, and travel around the country through literary works and figures that have influenced generations of readers. And all this through the writings of two popular writers: Alki Zei and George Sari.
Called “Exactly 100! Treasures of Alki and George…”, our Summer Campaign for 2023 [SC2023] begins on 16/6 and concludes on 9/9. The activities are linked to the two authors’ works and lead to creative and playful pursuits based on such themes as history, emotions, travelling, summer encounters, etc., and held in or around the library.
While 2023 has been declared “Alki Zei Literary Year”, to us Alki and George are inseparable. Two parallel lives, two parallel courses, a lifelong relationship as it is recorded in hundreds of books; books that constitute a cultural treasure for our country’s libraries and are showcased by our new Summer Campaign.
SC2023 is complemented by “The SC Radio”, a set of interviews with people who knew the two writers and share with us some key moments they experienced with them. Finally, the SC includes audio books which anyone can listen to at any time simply by scanning a QR code.
The Summer Campaign of Reading and Creativity 2023 is organised by the National Library of Greece and implemented in collaboration with the University of Athens, specifically with the Laboratory of Educational Applications and Production of Educational Material of the Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, headed by professor Constantinos D. Malafantis.
Throughout the summer libraries coordinate their actions, while the participants of all ages share their reading experiences on the social media using hashtag #ΚΕ2023gr.
Every Thursday at FOUGARO ARTCENTER !
Thursday 22 June, 7.00pm
Exactly 100! Treasures of Alki and George...
with Yannis Tsiodras
Exactly 100 years... A shared life, shared courses, shared histories… always united. It is hard to set them apart, to think of the one without the other. Today, children have an important mission at the library: to discover the treasures of Alki Zei and George Sari.
Ages: 5+
Thursday 29 June, 7.00pm
Graphic Nov-el: stories and codes!
with Despina Flevari
How powerful is an image, and how can you fit a whole story into bubbles? The children are inspired by the stories of Alki and George, learn the various ‘codes’ of graphic novels and experiment with this popular art form.
Ages: 10+
Thursday 6 July, 7.30pm
You’ve got mail!
with Dimitra Zervopoulou
How did Alki and George communicate in the summer? The children communicate and share summer experiences with their counterparts from distant libraries, getting to know correspondence as a traditional form of communication.
Ages: 8+
Thursday 13 July, 7.30pm
Say ‘summer’ without saying ‘summer’!
with Sophia Mihalopoulou & Katerina Karanagnosti
Can you say ‘summer’ without using the word ‘summer’? The children discover summer treasures, make up their own summer notebooks and start packing for holidays at the most magical destinations.
Ages: 8+
Thursday 20 July, 7.30pm
Shall we be friends?
with Katerina Dima & Elpida Stratou
How well do we know our friends and what they mean to us?
The library invites young readers to play, have fun, listen to stories about great friendships and make new friends themselves.
Ages: 9+
Thursday 27 July, 7.30pm
Walls have a voice, too!
with Ioanna Apostolidou & Maria Zora
How much power is there in a slogan? The library invites children to get to know street art, find inspiration and come up with slogans to promote libraries and the love of books.
Ages: 7+
Thursday 3 August, 7.30pm
Imaginary Treks!
with Georgia Mikou
The children meet the heroes of Alki and George in our library join them into a journey across the two authors’ world, making their own imaginary maps and stories out of rope.
Ages: 7+
Thursday 10 August, 7.30pm
Playing to the clouds!
with Alexandra Tsazi
What are the plans of a group of children in the summer of 1940? How can you turn an umbrella into a toy? In this workshop the young friends of the library play, create and come up with mental journeys, while building their own game that will take them up in the clouds!
Ages: 7+
Thursday 17 August, 7.30pm
Where do cats go in the summer?
with Katerina Delopoulou
Inspired by the cat stories of Alki and George, the children make up their own stories about our favourite pets and prepare an imaginative puppet-theatre show.
Ages: 5+
Thursday 24 August, 7.30pm
I have a right!
with Sophia Aslanidou, Mirka Kachrimani & Fotini Vassiliou
Which right would you fight for, especially in public? In this workshop, children and teenagers are inspired by the life and work of Alki and George, learn the value of social activism and take part in a debate in the library about defending one’s views and values.
Ages: 12+
Thursday 31 August, 7.30pm
This is my story!
with Maria Zora & Ioanna Apostolidou
How easy is it, really, to write a story about ourselves and our experiences, as Alki and George did? In this workshop, the children become writers of their own unique stories about their summers, their games, their dreams, their world!
Ages: 9+
Thursday 7 September, 7.30pm
Libraires united forever!
with Rita Zikidou
Library lovers of all ages celebrate 100 years of Alki and George through the children’s creations during the Summer Campaign; they share summer memories, talk about their own readings and say farewell to summer, renewing their appointment for the next Summer Campaign.
Ages: 5+
