The Universal Reading Foundation has joined the Federation of European Literacy Associations (FELA) as a full member – a European network of organisations working to advance reading and writing skills. This marks an important step in the further development of the Foundation’s activities and in integrating its work into the international ecosystem of literacy cooperation.
Membership in FELA is both a significant distinction and a recognition of the Foundation’s work to date. It enables active participation in an international network, the exchange of experience, and the co-creation of initiatives supporting the development of reading across Europe. It also strengthens the effectiveness of activities through access to knowledge, research, and proven practices, while fostering partnerships across borders.
“Collaboration is the foundation of the Universal Reading Foundation’s work – both in its broad, cross-sector and often non-obvious forms, and in partnerships grounded in the exchange of experience with organisations whose work closely mirrors our own. Membership in FELA is of great value to us: within a community of literacy-focused organisations, we can support one another, learn from each other, and build strategies for impact on an international scale. We are truly pleased that our efforts are recognised in a wider European context, because both in Poland and internationally, we are able to achieve far more together than we ever could alone,” emphasises Maria Deskur, CEO of the URF.
The Universal Reading Foundation is a non-governmental organisation operating in Poland since 2018. Its mission is to promote reading as an investment in social development, reduce exclusion, and strengthen democracy. The Foundation’s work is nonpartisan, evidence-based, and grounded in cross-sector cooperation, viewing reading as a tool for building equal opportunities, civic competencies, and social inclusion.
The organisation believes that developing reading skills is fundamental to creating an open society resilient to disinformation. Its goal is to create conditions in which every child in Poland can fulfil their potential and have equal educational opportunities, with regular contact with books playing a crucial role.
In 2024, the Foundation became the first Polish organisation to receive the Library of Congress Literacy Award. It runs a number of programmes and campaigns, including the nationwide #ReadingDad campaign encouraging men to read, the #BookOnPrescription programme engaging doctors and the medical community by integrating reading recommendations into children’s health prevention, as well as the Resilience Lab oratory – a project focused on using reading and dialogue as tools for team building, strengthening social resilience, and fostering local cooperation.
The Federation of European Literacy Associations (FELA) is a federation of 28 organisations dedicated to promoting literacy across Europe. It brings together diverse experiences, languages, traditions, and activities, creating a collaborative space focused on advancing reading skills.
FELA operates through conferences, seminars, webinars, exchange programmes, and by supporting research and publications, enabling the dissemination of best practices and innovative approaches in education. Its members form an active and engaged community of experts and practitioners working to promote reading and literacy throughout Europe.
Joining this network opens new opportunities for international cooperation and strengthens the Foundation’s capacity to promote reading on a broader scale.