THE HAGUE – Fewer young people are reading, a trend that experts warn is limiting opportunities and weakening critical thinking skills across society. According to the Dutch Letterenfonds, declining reading habits are also contributing to a drop in reading proficiency. To help reverse this development, organizations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands can apply for grants to support reading promotion initiatives. Applications remain open until Friday, February 20.
The funding scheme is aimed at a wide range of activities designed to encourage reading enjoyment and literacy. Eligible initiatives include reading clubs, digital reading projects, creative writing workshops, performances, and programs focused on intermediaries such as teachers and librarians. New projects that do not yet exist but are considered important for stimulating reading interest are also eligible for support.
For this funding round, two places are specifically reserved for organizations in the Caribbean. One project must be in Papiamentu or Papiamento, and one in English. This reflects the importance of promoting reading in local and regional languages alongside Dutch.
An example of a successful initiative supported by the Letterenfonds is the Caribbean Reading Festival organized by Stichting Biblionef. With funding from the Letterenfonds, Biblionef hosted festivals in Aruba, Sint Maarten, and Curaçao, where children were introduced to stories in a playful way, both in their mother tongue and in Dutch. The festivals included performances, author readings, workshops, and book-related activities.
The program also extended to parents and teachers, who received training on how to encourage reading enjoyment and literacy development in a multilingual context.
Bethzy Gianella Chiang, director of Biblionef, highlighted the significance of the funding. She said that after years of working in the Caribbean, the subsidy finally provides room to deepen dialogue with partners and translate their needs into concrete action. According to Chiang, the collaboration with committed local partners has made it possible to create a lasting impact on reading culture in the region.
Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to submit their proposals before the February 20 deadline.