P.AGE: previous achievements and future plans

P.AGE – is one of the youngest projects of the B50 community. It aims to provide school and community libraries with modern Ukrainian-language books that stimulate personal development, help make learning more interesting, and help children choose their future profession. In this way, we help to restore the potential of children living in the territories that have experienced occupation or suffered from hostilities.

The project consists of three stages: pilot, regional and national. Last year, we completed the first two stages and started the third. In total, we delivered sets of books to 16 libraries in Dnipropetrovs’k, Donetsk, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson and Chernihiv regions.

Each set consists of 50 books on science, development, history, leaders, money, art, professions, growing up, patriotism, etc. When creating the set, we tried to find the highest quality publications on the book market. We tried to find interesting literature for different age groups of children. At the same time, we tried to reflect different spheres and areas of personal, intellectual, and professional development, as well as the formation of children’s consciousness and national identity.

Today we can confidently say that we have managed to create a set of the highest quality and most interesting literature. After all, the feedback from the libraries participating in the project is positive, and the books from B50 have found their readers in different parts of the country. While we are preparing to work with new libraries (which we will tell you about very soon!), we share with you feedback from previous participants, as well as tell you more about the publications we have selected.

Why did we choose educational books rather than fiction?

There are many projects and government programs that help children’s libraries obtain fiction – fairy tales, novels, and adventure literature. It is important and useful to develop worldview, vocabulary, and imagination through fiction. But, according to our observations, many libraries lack quality educational literature, where curious children could find answers to questions they are interested in, learn something new about the world, and learn to think critically.

This is due to the fact that until recently, such literature was published in few editions or in russian. Now, publishers offer a wide range of high-quality books by Ukrainian and international authors aimed at the comprehensive development of children – interesting encyclopedias and thematic scientific publications written in a language that children understand. These books are complemented by bright, attractive drawings that help children absorb information.

Therefore, realizing that these novelties have not yet found their way to the shelves of children’s libraries, we decided that it was a great initiative to help children get books for comprehensive self-development. So 50 by B50 is a kind of mini-library for interesting learning, exploring oneself, others, the country, the planet and the universe, self-realization and leadership potential.

One of the tasks of B50 is to help communities affected by russian aggression: we are cleaning up the aftermath of the enemy invasion, helping to protect children by equipping and decorating bomb shelters, and with this project we are taking care of their future, their development, and helping to raise a new generation of Ukrainians – conscious, tolerant, and broad-minded.

That is why we have selected 50 books for children aged 6 to 17. Our priority is children’s libraries that have been affected by the invasion (occupied or damaged) and those that lack quality literature in Ukrainian.

What are these books?

What do our participants say about our 50?

Library of Shandryholove village, Donetsk region

The library of the village of Shandryholove was destroyed in the spring of 2022, along with the school, kindergarten, club, and workshop… The 16 children who remained in the village are taught by Ukrainian language and literature teacher Oleksandr Pohorelov at his home. Here, at the teacher’s home, the librarian of the Shandryholivka village library branch, Oleksandra Voloshyna, conducts interesting lectures and lessons with the help of books from B50.

Thus, on January 22, 2024, on the occasion of the Day of Unity of Ukraine, a historical memorial “The Power of the People is in Unity” was held. During the event, the Anthem of Ukraine was performed. The librarian told the children about the events of January 22, 1919 and interesting facts related to this day. The students watched the video: “Ukraine is United” and recited poems about Ukraine. The books received as part of the P.AGE program were used at the event, namely: “Traveling Book. Independent” and “Traveling Book. Ukraine” by Iryna Taranenko and “Cool History of Ukraine” by Inna Kovalyshyna.

On April 19, on the occasion of the Environment Day and International Mother Earth Day, Oleksandra Voloshyna conducted a journey through the book I Can Save the Planet by Loll Kirby. Through this unusual journey, children learned how to get rid of garbage, protect animals, save trees, and reduce pollution. During the event, they shared their experience of preserving the environment, their dreams and wishes that they would like to realize to make nature and the planet clean.

Thanks to the P.AGE project, children from the village of Shandryholove not only received a set of new interesting books, but also met their peers from the United States, Max and Julia, P.AGE donors. To recap: Max and Julia sell lemonade and other products at children’s lemonade stands as part of their Lemons for Learningproject. This is how they raise funds for charity, including education. Last fall, Max and Yulia donated $1,000 to the B50 community, which we used to buy sets of books for three libraries, including the Shandryholove library.

As a thank you, the children from Shandryholove sent letters and drawings to Max and Julia. They responded in kind, and so the communication began. We are glad that we helped to establish such a connection.

We are incredibly pleased with every response we receive, and we are glad that we can help children of war in this difficult time for them and for the country. We are now starting a new page of the project and will soon introduce you to the next P.AGE participants, stay tuned.