Berliner Lesepaten

The BERLINER LESEPATEN are a volunteer reading promotion project, founded in 2005 by the Association of Berlin Merchants and Industrialists (VBKI). The project is one of the largest and most significant volunteer initiatives in the education sector in Berlin.

The main mission of the BERLINER LESEPATEN is to promote the reading and language competence of children and young people in Berlin, especially those from socially disadvantaged families or with a non-German language background. Through regular reading aloud and shared reading, children are introduced to the world of books and their language skills are strengthened. The project advocates for social integration and equal opportunities in the education system[2][3][5].

• Volunteer Reading Partnerships: Around 2,000 reading mentors engage weekly in Berlin schools and daycare centers to read with children, tell stories, and promote their reading competence.
• Language and Reading Promotion: The reading mentors support educational professionals in language and reading promotion by looking at picture books with the children, reading dialogically, and listening to the children read[2][4][5].
• Individual Support: The reading partnerships provide intensive, individual support that is often not possible in a traditional classroom setting. This also includes digital, interactive reading and learning spaces[2][4].

• Long-term Educational Support: Through regular and long-term support, the BERLINER LESEPATEN contribute directly and sustainably to the positive development of children and increase their educational and participation opportunities.
• Social Integration: The project promotes the social integration of children by providing them access to education and cultural experiences, regardless of their social background[2][3][5].
• Community Building: The reading partnerships strengthen not only the relationship between the children and the volunteers but also between the schools, daycare centers, and the community. They comfort, support, advise, and laugh with the children, making the project a valuable part of the social and cultural life in Berlin[2][4].

Every week, the BERLINER LESEPATEN support over 12,000 children and young people in Berlin. The project is open to anyone who enjoys reading and wants to invest time regularly. Trainees, students, professionals, and seniors can engage as reading mentors. The project offers training and events for active reading mentors[4][5].

The BERLINER LESEPATEN are a vibrant example of civic engagement and the responsibility that the community takes for the education and future of its children. Through their work, they make a significant contribution to the development of a reading-friendly and educated society.

• 1 - https://vbki.de/en/bildung/
• 2 - https://buergerstiftung-berlin.de/leselust/
• 3 - https://familienportal.berlin.de/artikel/lesepatenschaften
• 4 - https://lesepaten.berlin/lesepate-werden/
• 5 - https://lesepaten.berlin