Ibtisam Hassan, a refugee who fled Lebanon for Sweden, is calling on volunteers in Helsingborg to read children’s stories in a variety of languages. Hassan says the Swedish law guarantees that “all children have the right to hear, read and speak their own language.” She points to the current program in Helsingborg, where stories are read in eleven different languages, and notes that more languages are planned for the future. The idea began when Hassan’s grandmother used to read her stories in their native tongue, sparking her interest in language and storytelling. After her dramatic escape from Lebanon, she has settled in Helsingborg and now seeks additional story readers to help children maintain and develop their linguistic skills. “We want to give children the chance to hear and read stories in the language they grow up speaking,” Hassan said. She is looking for volunteers who can read in any of the languages represented in the city’s multicultural community.
Article source: Helsingborgs Dagblad | Image credit: Helsingborgs Dagblad