<![CDATA[USBBY - Twinning Updates]]>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:11:25 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Twinning Updates from the November 2025 Board Meeting]]>Sun, 09 Nov 2025 12:47:48 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/twinning-updates-from-the-november-2025-board-meetingIBBY El Salvador:
Jorge Argueta reported to me that IBBY El Salvador activities have slowed down considerably. They sometimes join festivities already being held by the Ministry of Education including Children’s Day, Dia del Libro, the Day of the Dead, and other activities that are reading related. IBBY El Salvador also celebrates a major even every year, the Manyula International Children’s Poetry Festival. The Library of Dreams is also operating for children in San Salvador and another location.
IBBY Haiti:
Jocelyne Trouillot reported from IBBY Haiti that things are very bad. Hurricane Melissa hit the south of the island. This has caused even more complications in the life of thousands of families displaced because of gang activities. She says that, “School is open but half of the children do not make it because of food scarcity. Some schools do supply lunch for the children and this helps with attendance. From our point of view, we need books for the children. Our Team, many of our trained members have left and we are constantly training new people to expose the children to books. Our supplies have been completely used. Besides the books, we need paper, pencils, and crayons. We have a safe area to keep them.” She says that the need for training is also important, including writers, illustrators and monitors. “Any help by USBBY will be well appreciated!”
IBBY Lebanon:
Shereen Kreidieh reports that IBBY Lebanon continues their work with children in Lebanon in crisis and after the crisis. There is a big demand in Lebanon to get children and books closer together through: 
  • continuing our projects of building and developing libraries in public schools
  • building and developing libraries in the schools affected by the war 
  • doing recreational activities and biblio-therapy activities for children whose education has been disrupted and who lack  access to safe, resource rich learning environments.
  • working with refugee camps for displaced families triggered by the conflict in southern Lebanon and Gaza.
She expresses that USBBY’s support is highly appreciated.
Among current projects and activities are the following:
  • Promoting Reading for Displaced Children in Bekaa
The project focuses on supporting three schools by renovating libraries, supplying Arabic and English books, and providing training for library staff. These efforts aim to foster not only academic growth but also emotional resilience through literature, particularly for children experiencing the trauma of displacement and conflict. The project serves three schools/libraries, providing 3,000 English and Arabic books donated by Book Aid International and 300 books purchased for each school. It also includes training staff to manage libraries and deliver bibliography sessions.
  • IBBY Lebanon’s Partnership with Mouvement Social, 
a Lebanese organization that works to empower marginalized communities by providing educational support, protection services and community-based programs. The three branches supported through this project are located in areas where children face extreme social and economic challenges, neighborhoods that host a large number of displaced families and refugees, many of whom have fled violence or destruction in other parts of Lebanon or from neighboring countries, Palestine (Gaza) and Syria. Donations have been 1,500 books donated from Book Aid International, 300 books purchased in Arabic and French.
  • In the coming phase of the initiative, IBBY Lebanon will distribute an additional set of Arabic-language children’s books funded by the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund.
  • Alongside the books, Trauma Teddies, will be distributed at the three Mouvement Social branches. These soft comfort items , paired with stories of strength and healing, offer emotional reassurance to children navigating loss, instability and fear.

IBBY Palestine:
Of course, we know that the situation in Gaza is horrific. Much of Gaza has been destroyed including libraries, schools, and hospitals. Many of the inhabitants have been displaced or killed including many children. The two libraries in Gaza City and Beit Hanoun where children took refuge from the war have, again, been completely destroyed. And many of those children’s lives have been destroyed along with the libraries.
IBBY Palestine does report that one project is making a difference, called “Libraries are Havens.” $15,900 has been raised through Story Sunbirds, with the support of IBBY’s Children in Crisis Fund, for the two IBBY Palestine library communities. The humanitarian aid will be used for the displaced children, librarians, and families. Says, IBBY Palestine, “It means a great deal to show tangible care when the children must feel so alone and abandoned. The libraries were their second homes, their safe havens. Now they’ve lost both their homes. Yet the librarians continue their work with them to keep them strong and stable as much as they can.” Among supporters are authors who lent their voices to the fundraising effort, including Naomi Shihab Nye, Kyo Maclear, Katherine Paterson and Beverly Naidoo.
Fundraising for this special project is ongoing as the needs are ongoing!
]]><![CDATA[IBBY-Story Sunbirds: Libraries are Havens Fundraiser]]>Thu, 19 Jun 2025 18:00:29 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/ibby-story-sunbirds-libraries-are-havens-fundraiser
Picture
© Art by Yasuko Toda

Story Sunbirds and IBBY fundraise to support librarians in need in Gaza

PURPOSE: To raise money for humanitarian aid to support the library communities of Gaza.

GOAL: Fundraise via IBBY Children in Crisis Fund for the IBBY Palestine Librarians with a goal of 10,000 USD by 1 June 2025.

RECIPIENTS: Funds will support everyone connected to the two IBBY libraries of Gaza — children, librarians, and families.

Libraries are more than buildings—they are safe havens where learning, imagination, and community thrive. In Gaza, the two IBBY libraries, established in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in 2008, have been devastated by the war that began in October 2023. One lies in rubble; the other severely damaged. Despite being displaced multiple times, the IBBY librarians continue working with children whenever possible.

IBBY has pledged to rebuild the libraries.

In solidarity, the Story Sunbirds launched a fundraiser with IBBY to provide urgent aid—food, water, shelter, hygiene—for librarians, their families, and the children who called these libraries home.

Consider donating to help us reach our goal!

DONATE HERE

Make sure to write #LibrariesAreHavens in the form to help us identify your contributions!

STORY SUNBIRDS:  A Kidlit Collective for All. Our mission is to cultivate a dynamic and inclusive children's literature community rooted in justice and anti-racism and anti-colonialism. As a collective of writers, illustrators, and publishing professionals, we prioritize the holistic growth and needs of all children, ensuring their voices and experiences are at the forefront of our creative works.

IBBY 
INTERNATIONAL BOARD
ON BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Nonnenweg 12
CH-4055 Basel, Switzerland
+41 61 272 29 17
ibby@ibby.org
www.ibby.org
]]><![CDATA[Children in Crisis in Gaza: Solidarity with IBBY Palestine]]>Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:02:50 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/children-in-crisis-in-gaza-solidarity-with-ibby-palestineWe are Resilient, we will Persist!

Emergency Aid- Children in Crisis

It is important to establish the fact that Children in Crisis activities and the work of the two IBBY libraries in Gaza has never stopped even though no funding has been received from IBBY International for two years. The Foundation of the Katherine Paterson Family has generously funded the libraries for these years, in addition to IBBY national sections’ contribution after two major appeals. IBBY Palestine has persisted successfully depending on some savings, donations, Book aid books donations and lots of voluntary work. On the contrary it has progressed and gathered a rich experience in this field; it became an essential reality for the children and the local community.

From the very beginning of the Israeli government’s war on Gaza, we decided as the custodians of the Children in Crisis in Gaza to continue our work and our commitment to this noble project and to its community. What was needed, in addition to safety, is mere basic survival needs, the case till this day and even more badly needed. We raised funds from family and friends to support our librarians, their families and a few of the community of experts, writers, illustrators, drama teachers and handcrafts trainers who implemented workshops in the libraries. Of course, we kept the salaries -of the two librarians ongoing, added to it twice emergency support, while others had only the emergency support. This money was dearly needed to buy basic life needs from the very expensive local market which is barely available. Till this day the librarians and majority of families are displaced moving several times, little is received from local organizations working in relief with the suffocating Israeli government embargo. Providing, at times, food, water, sanitary kits and other basic needs; a tent or something similar was almost miraculous!

With our limited means we were able to assist 15 persons from our libraries’ community for a one-time of $ 500. We wish this could persist or be wider as it is extremely needed. With the ongoing salary of the two librarians for one year the expenses were around $ 15,000. We welcome any support through IBBY’s Children in Crisis Fund to be allocated for this current vision.

For the present, we do not want to have a public call for fundraising before the ceasefire and there is a wider scale of work on the ground. However, we welcome any donations now as it helps the emergency support and it will be available as soon as the war on Gaza stops.

Our vision for the near future

We are committed to standing with the librarians in Gaza for ethical and humanitarian reasons. In addition, there are vital reasons their presence and expertise is needed for resuming their activities with the children as soon as there is a ceasefire. Children are in urgent need of stress release, psycho- social and bibliotherapy activities, whether in a tent, a school or open air, awaiting the rebuilding of Gaza. Moreover, the library community is important to partly compensate for the loss of family members and friends, children need to feel they belong. The library was for the children their safe haven, their second home. We hope it will partially heal their deep wounds and traumas. Most importantly, not forgetting that we need to document the loss of the children who were members of the libraries, to keep their memory among their families and friends; in addition, to assist children with amputated limbs and other unhealed wounds.

Abla, the librarian of Beit Hanoun’s destroyed library, was displaced with her family at least seven times, had to endure the last two month of pregnancy, an unsafe delivery and care for a new born baby. She was able to implement limited activities with the children in her displaced area, most of the time with no proper tent or shelter. Unfortunately, Mahmoud the other librarian is stuck in Istanbul where he accompanied his brother, being treated for cancer, a few days before October 7th.

On the other hand, there are many psycho-social, non-formal creative activities implemented by the Tamer Institute as their historic mandate, as well as some other Palestinian NGOs; though hindered by the ongoing war, there is no safe place for the displaced. Activities are implemented by local paid facilitators either in available large tents or local schools; although, several schools have been targeted and bombed causing the immediate deaths of many children.

Solidarity with IBBY Palestine

IBBY Palestine is proud of all the expressions of solidarity that has been given; it keeps us going morally and financially. The main solidarity comes from the USBBY as our twinning partner through their Children in Crisis fundraising efforts. We have had many letters of solidarity from IBBY sections and a $1000 donation from our friend, past IBBY President Mingzhou Zhang. Recently, IBBY Pakistan /Alif Leila organized beautiful children’s activities of illustrations; creative activities from the Palestinian heritage all aimed at solidarity and fundraising

Our very best regards,
Jehan Helou IBBY Palestine]]><![CDATA[UKRAINE: Mobile Library on Wheels Project]]>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:21:34 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/ukraine-mobile-library-on-wheels-projectThe Ukraine Section of IBBY operates at the National Library of Ukraine for Children, providing children with Ukrainian books and popularizing the work of the creators of modern Ukrainian children’s books. Ukrainian librarians work courageously in harsh war conditions, daily shelling, media attacks, and information provocations. 
 
The National Library of Ukraine for Children needs funds to purchase a Bookbus. Implementing the Mobile Library on Wheels Project will allow the protection of the library collections from daily enemy attacks and respond quickly to removing books from affected libraries. The Bookbus, stocked with modern Ukrainian and world literature and equipped with computers and Internet access, is the need for effective library services in the de-occupied areas and areas of forced displacement. The Bookbus will also allow children to come to the primary children's library, where they can see a variety of children's literature, get practical advice on children's reading, visit the center for mental health and psychological relief, and participate in exciting and creative events.
 
Financial assistance is needed to purchase computers, laptops, tablets, printers, scanners, multimedia, digital cameras, charging stations, etc. This will enrich the information and technical resources of the network of children's libraries in Ukraine, which are centers of digitalization and digital education for children, and will also help preserve and popularize cultural heritage.
 
Ukrainian children's literature is competitive in the global book market, and Ukrainian authors are known worldwide. Unfortunately, a good modern book is not available for many users who live in war and have financial problems. Therefore, libraries for children are becoming the only place to access literature, reading, and communication. Funds are greatly needed to purchase literature that will enrich and update the destroyed and damaged library collections and help meet the reading demands of discerning children.
 
These are the primary urgent needs of IBBY Ukraine and children's libraries in Ukraine. 
​
Your contributions are greatly appreciated!]]><![CDATA[PALESTINE: Children in Crisis Project for the Displaced Children in Gaza]]>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:20:32 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/palestine-children-in-crisis-project-for-the-displaced-children-in-gazaIBBY has remained committed to finance and support Children in Crisis libraries in Gaza, mainly from the Foundation of Katherine Paterson and IBBY Sections. 
 
Because children’s libraries, along with books and other resources, have been destroyed by the devastation of the war on Palestine, the current need is to support the two librarians who continue to work with the children. $15,000 is needed per year.
 
IBBY Palestine is committed to stand with these librarians for ethical and humanitarian reasons. Their presence and expertise are needed for resuming their activities with the children as soon as possible. Children are in urgent need of a speedy stress release atmosphere, in need of psycho-social and bibliotherapy activities, whether in a tent, a school or open air, awaiting the rebuilding of Gaza. Moreover, the library community is important for the children to partly compensate for the loss of family members and friends, children need to feel they belong. The library was for the children their safe-haven, their second home. We hope it will partially help to heal their deep wounds and traumas.
 
Solidarity nourishes hope! The USBBY twinning partnership of solidarity and hope with IBBY Palestine kindles hope! Contributions for Children in Crisis in Palestine are greatly needed and appreciated!]]><![CDATA[LEBANON: Children in Crisis Relief through Books in Lebanon]]>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:17:15 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/lebanon-children-in-crisis-relief-through-books-in-lebanonThe Lebanese Board on Books for Young People (LBBY) is currently working on a relief project to support displaced Lebanese children and refugee children from Palestine and Syria, in collaboration with Book Aid International, caused by the bombings and destruction in southern Lebanon and Gaza.
 
Training sessions, conducted for approximately 180 volunteers, focused on storytelling techniques, the principles of bibliotherapy, and addressing the impact of war and displacement on children, with the support of professional psychologists and educators.
 
Out of the trained volunteers, 130 university students, mostly specializing in psychology and social work, have expressed their interest in participating. We are in the process of preparing 130 packages, each containing the following:
  • A label with the logos of LBBY and Book Aid International
  • 10 Arabic books from 5 different publishers, covering various subjects (fun topics, cleanliness, emotional well-being, general knowledge, and realistic fiction)
  • 10 English books donated by Book Aid International
  • 5 sets of colored pencils
  • 5 sketch pads
  • 1 ream of paper
  • 1 box of pencils
 
Additionally, a summary of the online training will be shared by the volunteers to guide their activities. We have also created a WhatsApp group to facilitate communication and collaboration among the team members as we move forward. Currently, we are finalizing the packaging of these items into boxes. Once ready, we will distribute them either through couriers or by delivery personnel, depending on the logistics in each area.
 
In a time when many feel helpless, providing tools and small-scale training can enable volunteers to support the children in their own communities. We made sure to follow the social work principles of empowerment, focusing on the strengths and resilience of our communities.
 
Due to the current crisis, local publishers, despite being closed, have kindly opened their doors to allow us to collect the necessary books.
For safety reasons, each volunteer will be assigned to work at locations near their homes, as it is too dangerous to travel. Assabil, an NGO dedicated to promoting reading, is also sending four professional storytellers to conduct activities with the children. These storytellers will train our volunteers in Beirut before heading out to work alongside them.
 
While the budget provided by Book Aid International is helpful, we desperately need additional funding to expand our reach and serve more children. Despite the war and bombings, LBBY remains committed to helping as many children as possible under these difficult conditions, leveraging the power of community to provide hope and support.
 
Contributions are greatly appreciated for our children in crisis in Lebanon!]]><![CDATA[HAITI]]>Sun, 03 Nov 2024 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/haitiDescription of current needs to follow.
]]><![CDATA[EL SALVADOR]]>Sun, 03 Nov 2024 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/el-salvadorEl Salvador is the 'peace-time' country with the highest per capita homicide rate in the world. Gangs are essentially determining the fate of children, which is why so many have elected to leave. Library of Dreams, La biblioteca de los sueños was created in one of the neighbourhoods where people live immersed in a climate of insecurity. We know that through reading, Salvadoran children can dream and make healthy positive choices for their future. The Library creates a space where children of El Salvador may develop an approach to literature, art and nature through reading and the experience of a harmonious encounter with nature such that through them they can arrive at a more dignified and just coexistence and to be empowered to create real change in their lives.

IBBY El Salvador has the opportunity to build a permanent library in Santa Domingo de Guzman, a semi-rural area with a primarily indigenous population. The local income in the area is below the national average and literacy rate is low. Award-winning Salvadorian author Jorge Argueta conceived and founded the Library of Dreams to increase literacy and promote a love of reading for children.

Currently housed in a temporary facility, the programme includes a read-in and lending library, 3x weekly read-aloud and story-telling events for children, reading instruction for children, a safe place for children to go and educator training by working with local schools.

Read a presentation about the Library of Dreams and its plans for a more secure future here and watch a short video from the library, celebrating the Day of the Dead with the children here.
​
In 2022, USBBY started a fundraising campaign to support the building of a new library.

Description of current needs to follow.]]><![CDATA[IBBY CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR CRISIS RELIEF THROUGH BOOKS IN LEBANON]]>Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/twinning-updates/ibby-call-for-support-for-crisis-relief-through-books-in-lebanonTo: The IBBY Members
Cc. IBBY Executive Committee
Children-in-Crisis Fund: Call for support
Crisis relief through books in Lebanon

Dear IBBY Members, dear Friends,

I write to you with deep concern and a feeling of great emergency. These past couple of years, all of us have watched with bated breath the horrors of war, as the children of the world have suffered the untold misery of terror, destruction, and death.
It has been IBBY’s tradition to rally around its own when trouble calls. It is now time to rally around Lebanon, where, in just a few days, nearly one million people were forced to leave their homes and their lives behind them.

Our colleagues of the Lebanese Board on Books for Young People (LBBY) have developed a relief project to support the children displaced this war, many of whom are refugees from Palestine and Syria.

LBBY has launched an appeal for donations. IBBY will respond as it always does. Could you please share this appeal with your members and help raise funds? The current needs are dire, and, as the escalation of war continues in the region, we must be ready for further actions wherever we can provide support.

Thank you for your support and let’s join hands to provide some respite to the children who need our love and empathy urgently. Donations can be sent via the IBBY website or by contacting the IBBY Secretariat.

With my best regards,

Basarat Kazim
IBBY President
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