By Jakub Gronowski | Fundraising & Project Manager
Dear Friends & Supporters of Lilipad,
glancing back at the months gone by, one thing stands out vividly: so much has happened and so much has been achieved! Amidst the fading grip of Berlin's winter, the gentle emergence of sunshine gives us even more energy for the exciting projects ahead of us.
Allow me to shortly guide you through what we have accomplished with your incredible help and support since our last report in September 2023.
WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED IN 2023?
In 2023, we proudly inaugurated four new Lilipad libraries, expanding our network to a total of 16 active libraries! Where are they located?
These new libraries have significantly expanded our reach by an impressive 64%! From reaching 1400 children in 2022, we concluded 2023 with a total of 2300 children participating in our programs.
Despite ongoing budget cuts, we remained steadfast in our commitment to conducting storytelling workshops, which proved to be even more crucial during these challenging times. So far, we've organised 413 workshops, offered 1700 hours of Reading Out Loud Support and provided 1100 hours of tutoring in Morocco and Uganda.
In addition to our library expansion and workshops, we're thrilled to report a significant increase in our provision of multilingual books. In 2023, we distributed 1500 multilingual books, marking a notable increase of 600 books compared to the previous year.
WHAT IS AHEAD OF US IN 2024?
As we stepped into the new year, we launched a new series of workshops tailored for children & teenagers residing in GU Britz. These workshops centred on visual storytelling, providing a creative outlet for self-expression. Check out the pictures below to see what they looked like and how much fun the kids (and we) had!
Simultaneously, we laid the groundwork for another workshop series that will delve into the art of rap and the works of classic Middle Eastern poets, empowering teenagers to craft their own rap songs. They will be recorded and broadcasted on the Refuge Worldwide radio platform so stay tuned for updates on this project via our Instagram & LinkedIn. We're thrilled to witness the effects of this one!
With our 2023 learnings in mind, we decided to largely increase our reach by scaling our model so that more children & teenagers can access libraries & workshops. In 2024, we will be experimenting with how the core libraries can support and inspire our growing satellite libraries, hopefully establishing a model that can support many more safe havens across different geographies. We can’t wait to continue this journey!
And to wrap things up, a few sentences from those for whom we started the Lilipad project in the first place: the children.
Amira, 13 year old
“With the Lilipad books, I have improved my reading and Arabic speaking skills, and developed my creativity through drawing, colouring, and dancing.”
Sanaa, 14 years old
“The Lilipad Librarian supports me with my school assignments and projects. For example, I had to prepare a report about a Moroccan personality for school. The librarian helped me, and I got the best grade.”
Kenza, 17 years old
“The workshops that the Librarian Samira offer, including reading and handicrafts, have contributed greatly to my overall learning experience.”
*CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN*
Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far! Our crowdfunding campaign remains open and we continue to welcome donations - every little bit goes a long way. Your support will allow us to grow our impact in our existing libraries, launch brand-new projects and ultimately change children's lives through reading and education.
There are a few ways you can get involved:
Thank you again for your support!
Yours,
The Lilipad Team
Links:
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