Reading Rescuers is a nationwide program for people working with children and young people.
The 5th edition of the Reading Rescuers program, organized by the Universal Reading Foundation, is starting. This is an initiative that brings together teachers, librarians and educators from all over Poland around the idea of promoting reading and books. – especially among children and youth. In the 2025/2026 school year, the Rescuers will operate under the slogan "Reading Course," emphasizing the value of reading and convincing them that it builds invaluable capital from a young age. Recruitment for the program starts on September 15th. Information about the project and the application form can be found at:
www.ratownicyczytelnictwa.pl/
The aim of the program is to build a community of leaders and experts, who care for each other, who, together with children and young people, care for the world around them, and who are able to communicate with each other, understanding and respecting each other. Reading books builds such communities.
Throughout the school year, the rescuers undertake initiatives aimed at various groups: children, teachers (specialists), and parents, as well as activities focused on cooperation and outreach to local communities. The goal of these activities is to demonstrate that reading is an engaging way to spend free time, a great tool for development and learning about the world, and supports building relationships within families.
and in communities – school, neighborhood or local.
The Universal Reading Foundation supports rescuers by providing access to free materials educational and teaching, the possibility of acquiring and exchanging & Science, sharing experiences and inspirations and participation in the group of experts supporting each other. The program also includes free webinars for teachers and librarians and meetings from the series "Dinner with a Book", promoting good children's literature and more.
Previous editions were appreciated by librarians and teachers. The community around the initiative already has almost 5,000 engaged members, associated primarily in social media (Facebook and dedicated Group), where they can freely share their thoughts and information about their activities. There, they can also find useful content and advice.
„"We are thrilled that for the fifth time we can invite a very important group of people whose work is crucial in reaching non-readers and building reading habits. We want this community to grow, and we want the tremendous work done by librarians, parents, and all those working to promote universal reading to be recognized. By fulfilling our mission, we can not only work together but also support each other," she says. Magdalena Kosch-Maćkowiak, Managing Director of the Universal Reading Foundationand.
Only in the previous school year – 2024/2025, Reading Rescuers organized almost 2100 activities and events, in which more than 92,000 participants in facilities across Poland. Importantly, the program reached over 150 towns throughout Poland – from large cities to smaller centers.
Participants who receive Reading Rescuers certificates after the end of each edition, also complete surveys, which indicate that most of them see a positive impact of participating in the program. Last year, they primarily cited an increased interest in books, development of reading skills, greater engagement of students, teachers, and parents, and the popularization of reading in local communities thanks to activities undertaken as part of the program. Participants almost unanimously positively assess the effectiveness of the activities and the impact of participation in the program on the development of reading in institutions.
This year's fifth edition of the program (which lasts throughout the entire school year) also opens up the possibility of taking action by students – who, as part of their educational path, can become leaders in promoting reading in their communities, combining this mission with internships. In addition, one of the important areas is certified student volunteering as part of the Reading Rescuers – it is an invitation to young people to spread the idea of reading, as well as appropriate tools and tips that show how to do it.
The Reading Rescuers program is gaining increasing recognition among participants, becoming an important element in supporting the development of reading in Polish schools, libraries, and institutions. The idea of reading for pleasure and this year's edition of the Reading Rescuers program are once again supported by the brand Lajkonik, as a strategic partner of the program.
„"Supporting important initiatives is part of our brand's DNA. The Universal Reading Foundation often emphasizes that reading is for everyone and we should do it for pleasure. By supporting initiatives that promote reading, we are implementing our CSR strategy that combines the joy of life with responsibility. Our ongoing collaboration with the Foundation makes us the Rescuers of Reading, and we invite others to join this group," he says. Monika Pawłowska, Brand Manager at Lorenz Polska.
Applications for the Reading Rescuers program are open from September 15 to October 31, 2025.Details and rules of participation can be found at: www.ratownicyczytelnictwa.pl
Organizer: Universal Reading Foundation
Partner: Lajkonik
Patrons: Polish Librarians Association, Polish Section of IBBY, Nowa Era, Wolters Kluwer
Patrons media: TVP ABC, Czas Dzieci, Świerszczyk, RYMS. Magazine about literature for children and young people, School Principal
The Universal Reading Foundation The Universal Reading Foundation has been working for 6 years to improve the state of Polish reading and combat the exclusion of citizens. It treats non-reading as a contemporary social problem. It wants to reach families and communities of people who do not read at all. The aim of the Foundation is for every Polish child to have equal educational opportunities, which is greatly influenced by regular contact with books. The Foundation's activities focus on helping excluded children, educating leaders and supporting parents. The most important FPC campaigns include Reading Rescuers, Book on Prescription. Recipe for Success, Book Protects and the nationwide social campaign #TataTeżCzyta. FPC is the initiator of the informal coalition Reading Poland, within which the publication "Reading School - Reflections on the Functioning of Books in School" was developed.
Products Lajkonika Baked in Skawina near Krakow, these snacks have been a staple in families for generations. Their perfect crunch and simple ingredients make Lajkonik's flavor legendary and unique – beloved by consumers across Poland.
The brand's offerings include pretzels, crackers, slices, pretzels, Mini Crackers, Junior products, and the Dobry Chrup line. The company's goal is to provide snacks that combine Joy of Life with Responsibility.
The company is actively involved in promoting reading among children, teenagers, and adults. Lajkonik once again supports the "Reading Rescuers" program. This year, the brand also partnered with a nationwide campaign organized by the Universal Reading Foundation. #ReadingDad, which encourages men to read together regularly
with children, thus building a bond and supporting the development of the youngest.
