Less than a month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Maria Descourtauthor, publisher and president of the Literacy Foundation in Poland Fundacja Powszechnego Czytania, described “K” (17.3.2022) not an easy goal: to collect children’s books and send them to the Ukrainian refugee camps in their country in order to relieve the stress and psychological trauma caused by the war to their children.

Even then, Maria Descourt mobilized several Polish publishers, who, having received the relevant files from their Ukrainian colleagues, printed 20,000 children’s books in Ukrainian free of charge. Another 25,000 books were expected from the war-torn country, which would also be distributed where there are refugee children. Until a year later, the total number of books almost quadrupled.

“We have distributed over 160,000 books so far,” Marie Descourt tells us. As he explains, the majority came from Ukrainian publishers (who sent two truckloads of children’s books), from Poles (who continued to print Ukrainian archives and also printed their own Ukrainian-language bestsellers), and from organizations such as Book Aid International and International Book Project (who sent in the English and American titles).

These two trucks in particular faced various difficulties. But they reached their destination thanks to the contributions of individuals, as well as “great people” from the respective transport organizations. In general, there was no shortage of difficulties. “Where do I start…” says Marie Descourt, referring primarily to the early days of the war, when even a rudimentary book distribution network was needed.

“Thanks to great friends and caring people, we now have two professional book distribution centers that sort, pack and ship books on our behalf,” explains Maria Descourt, and continues: “We also work with the largest publisher of textbooks in Poland. –New Era– which has a team of forty representatives who travel to schools and kindergartens across the country. The house agreed to entrust its representatives with the delivery of books to children from Ukraine who are in schools, as well as in children’s institutions and refugee reception centers. It’s a huge help for us.”

“Now we have two professional book distribution centers,” says Maria Descourt from Poland, who came up with the idea of ​​offering children’s books.

How much more for children from Ukraine. Who send thank you messages and photographs to the Polish foundation, expressing their joy for the book they received – “especially for those that they recognize from their homeland,” says Maria Descourt. In one case, the foundation’s books were sent to a refugee center, placed on tables, and attracted so many people that the person in charge of the initiative was moved to tears. The mother, who settled in Krakow, called the books “priceless” because with their help, her children now had moments of calm.

Ukrainian publishing house Dmitry Drozdovskywhom the fund supported by buying his books, managed to save the literary magazine “Vsesvit”, which he publishes and which is the oldest in his country.

Hit by Libraries

“We know that more than 200 libraries have been destroyed. We are sure that this did not happen by chance, ”she emphasizes. Maria Descourt, adding that reading contributes to the independence of the conscience of the nation, hence the tendency of totalitarian regimes to destroy books. “Many publishing houses had their headquarters in Kharkiv, so we also know that some of its warehouses were destroyed, for example, the editions of Ranok. We also know that Ukrainian publishers lost approximately 90% of their sales. Helping them is a matter of vital importance,” he says, emphasizing the need for a strategy of direct donations to Ukrainian publishing houses and democratic think tanks, as well as book reading programs.

“Raising the literacy rate in Ukraine,” he concludes, “as quickly as possible is the best way to nurture the self-aware, smart and active citizens of tomorrow.”