The Reading Campaign Experience within Palestinian Society: Innovative Strategies for Learning and Building Community

Abstract

In this article, Munir Fasheh chronicles some of the positive changes that have affected teachers, parents, and students as a result of their involvement in the reading campaign, an initiative led by the Tamer Institute that combines learning with community building within Palestinian society. Fasheh uses the reading campaign as an illustration of the importance of building community at the "invisible" level of personal and community abilities, beliefs, and values, rather than just at the visible level of symbols, building, and funds. He describes how this innovative project was able to create long-lasting change by pulling together material, human, and instructional resources already at hand in a supportive and creative way. While the campaign is supported by a loose national structure that provides advice and materials, local community groups of adults and youths are the backbone of the campaign and the reason for its success. By engaging children and adults in this type of broad community effort, Fasheh argues, community is strengthened as participants acquire the means to learn new things, the ability to work cooperatively and solve problems collectively, and the power to use these skills in other situations in the future.