READ Donegal 2017 got off to a great start, when it was launched on 20th January in Letterkenny by local Volunteer, Aidan O’Doherty.
The book chosen this year is ‘The Breadwinner’ by Canadian author and activist Deborah Ellis and tells the story of one family’s survival under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. It is told by the daughter, Parvana.
Children and their families in Donegal are encouraged to read and discuss the chosen book, along with taking part in various activities held in schools, libraries and in the community.
The launch was attended by a number of well known local personalities. Special guests included children from Letterkenny’s Educate Together National School who enthralled the audience with their contribution on why they loved this year’s book so much and why they love to read.
READ DL has grown in strength from it’s humble beginnings as an initiative of Donegal CYPSC Education & Learning Subcommittee in 2012. It is now part of the global ‘One Book One Community’ initiative and has become an integral part of community life in Donegal.
Karen Sheehy, Donegal County Library Service said at the launch that "READ DL is all about coming together.
Communities, families and students are coming together to read a book, to reflect on the story, explore it’s impact at an individual as well as at a community level.
This sense of ‘coming together’ is also reflected in the make-up of the READ DL committee. READ DL is a great example of interagency working and we in the Library Service are delighted to be working with our partners on this initiative. I think it is the very nature of this collaborative working that has been critical to the success of READ DL.
The objective of this project is to get as many people reading a book from a particular author at the same time, building not only a sense of community but also promoting and valuing the importance of literacy within our communities. I would encourage those who don’t read as often as they would like or those that have been readers in the past to begin again; and what better way than to participate in this year’s READ DL challenge”.
This county-wide initiative runs from 19th January to the 2nd March. It is a reading movement that aims to bring Donegal communities together by giving them a shared experience of reading the one book for a period of time in the year.
Brid McIntyre, Co-chair of the READ DL Committee, Anne Mc Hugh, Chief Executive of Donegal Education and Training Board, Paddy Hannigan, READ DL Committee and Paul Hannigan, President of Letterkenny Institute of Technology also spoke at the launch. All those gathered were also wished well by the author of 'The Breadwinner', Deborah Ellis via a personal pre-recorded video message.
Copies of ‘The Breadwinner’ are available in all local libraries around County Donegal. Letterkenny Institute of Technology is also making books available to all their students involved in READ DL. In primary schools, senior classes are taking part in the project; while in post-primary schools first year students will be taking part.
Participating groups and schools are encouraged to undertake activities such as reading the book in school and at home, having mystery guest readers in school classes, writing competitions based on the book, posting their activities on the READ DL facebook page and having guest speakers to discuss the topic from the book.
To view the Background information on Read Donegal Click here
To read more about Donegal CYPSC Click here