The national programme “Read Me 100 Stories” is expanding: over 56,000 additional books will be delivered to kindergartens across the Republic of Moldova
The national interactive reading programme “Read Me 100 Stories” is expanding with a new batch of 47 book titles, totaling 56,400 copies, which will be distributed to 1,200 kindergartens across the country. These new titles complement the 22 books previously procured by UNICEF with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom and will help foster a culture of reading from the earliest years of life. The purchase of this new collection was made possible through the financial support of the Government of the United States of America. The books will enrich the existing kindergarten reading collections, including those in the 150 Early Education Resource Centres launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Education and Research in partnership with UNICEF.
The announcement was made during a press conference. Present at the event, Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research, thanked the partners for their support and emphasized the importance of expanding this programme for the development of both children and educators.
“The national programme Read Me 100 Stories is a deeply valued initiative, as promoting reading among children from an early age is essential for their later educational achievements. The more children are read to, the more likely they are to develop the literacy skills they need. At the same time, with the support of the OvidiuRO Association, we are organizing training sessions for early childhood educators and institutional managers to make reading more interactive and engaging. Through this programme, we aim to send a clear message: reading is for everyone - from the youngest to the oldest.”
“We know that for many families, especially in vulnerable communities, books remain a luxury. Only one in three children in these settings has access to at least three books at home. That is precisely why initiatives like Read Me 100 Stories are so important - for many children, this may be their only opportunity to benefit from early stimulation through reading. And the data is clear: interactive reading can increase a child’s vocabulary by up to 30% in the early years, and access to books can double early learning scores in disadvantaged environments. Together, we are building learning environments where every child can thrive. The stories we tell children today will shape the Moldova of tomorrow,” said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Moldova.
Georgiana Filimon, educator and representative of the OvidiuRO Association from Romania, highlighted the importance of collaboration in promoting reading in kindergartens. “The Read Me 100 Stories programme is about collaboration and partnership. Together, we can shape a meaningful mission to promote reading from the earliest ages. Through this programme, we aim to provide equal opportunities for all children and, together, to offer them the future they need. We want every child to build a rich and diverse knowledge base through reading.”
In turn, Tatiana Rotaru, director of Kindergarten No. 91 in Chișinău, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Research, UNICEF, and the OvidiuRO Association for their efforts in promoting reading among children, emphasizing its importance: “Reading truly plays a crucial role in children’s development. Every child in the Republic of Moldova deserves to grow up with 100 stories and to become a lifelong active reader. This programme has opened wide the doors to a new world, connecting children through expressive reading aloud,” said the director.
The “Read Me 100 Stories” programme was officially launched on 10 April 2025 by the Ministry of Education and Research, UNICEF, the OvidiuRO Association, and the Ion Creangă National Library for Children. The aim of the programme is to encourage reading among preschool children - both in early education institutions and at home - by making reading a daily, enjoyable, and accessible activity for all families.
Kindergartens are encouraged to create “reading islands” - child-friendly spaces dedicated to reading and listening to stories, both indoors and outdoors. In parallel, the Ministry of Education and Research, UNICEF, the OvidiuRO Association, and the Ion Creangă National Library for Children are organizing reading promotion activities with financial support from the Government of the Republic of Korea. These include the “ReadFest” festival, held during Parenting Month, International Fathers’ Day, and the second edition of Education Week, which took place in May 2025.
Additionally, to support the programme’s implementation, around 800 educators and preschool managers from across the country participated in training sessions organized in partnership with the OvidiuRO Association. The sessions covered topics such as the benefits of interactive reading, selection of appropriate books, setting up reading spaces, and actively engaging children in reading activities from the earliest years.
According to the study “Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Parents and Caregivers of Children Under 6”, conducted by UNICEF in 2023:
- Only 31.1% of caregivers read books to children regularly (daily);
- 35% of caregivers report reading bedtime stories to children every night - the rest do so only occasionally or not at all;
- 87% of children from the most developed households have at least three books at home, compared to just 33% of children from the most vulnerable communities;
- Cognitive and intellectual stimulation through reading is still perceived as secondary to the child’s physical needs - many parents continue to focus primarily on care and nutrition;
- Despite general awareness of the importance of emotional interaction and reading, practices remain sporadic - many caregivers do not have reading as part of their daily routine.
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