Bollebozen: Equal Opportunities through Reading Fun for Everyone
As part of de Voorleesweek, Bollebozen visited several Flemish primary schools for the third consecutive year to organise a day centred around the joy of language and reading. Primary school students increasingly struggle with understanding, interpreting, and evaluating information from texts. The challenges in literacy skills among Flemish children were once again highlighted earlier this year in the results of the Flemish educational tests. Fluency in reading and language proficiency is closely linked to equal opportunities. Children who struggle with reading often face disadvantages, both academically and in their future societal participation.

This is why Bollebozen annually hosts various events centred around reading enjoyment, focusing particularly on children who do not always have access to adequate reading materials at home. In collaboration with organisations like JINC Belgium, Bollebozen brings books to schools and families who might not have the means to acquire them. This year, almost half a million books were distributed to children in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Bram Vromans, Country Manager of bol Belgium, stated: “Reading is invaluable for a child’s development. It not only opens up new worlds but also helps children perform better in school and increases their chances of a successful future. Through Bollebozen, we aim to ensure that every child has access to books and the opportunity to discover the joy of reading.”

Stories Read Aloud by Metejoor
The day was packed with surprises and fun. The children listened attentively as Metejoor read stories, and the letter maze filled with language games was a big hit. The grand finale of the day was Metejoor's live performance.

Metejoor commented: “I think it’s incredibly important to encourage children to read. Books give you the chance to learn new things and embark on adventures. By having fun with language together, I hope to inspire them to pick up a book more often at home.”