Swakopmund, July 16 – A morning of imagination, colour, and storytelling lit up the Community Library in Mondesa as children aged 4 to 8 gathered for a special reading event hosted by the Goethe-Institut Namibia.
The event marked another successful collaboration between the Goethe-Institut Namibia and the Community Library, building on previous initiatives such as the “We Learn Festival.”
This time, the spotlight was on Kamishibai – a traditional Japanese storytelling technique that combines spoken narration with illustrated story cards displayed in a wooden frame. The vivid visuals and animated storytelling style immediately captivated the young audience.
Approximately 50 children sat wide-eyed and engaged as they listened to three carefully selected tales: the beloved “Lieselotte Stays Awake,” the timeless classic “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” and the Namibian story “Open Your Eyes, Minda!” – a title from the Booksprint Namibia project, initiated by the Goethe-Institut in partnership with the German Embassy in Namibia. The project aims to create diverse, locally relevant children’s stories written, illustrated, and produced entirely in Namibia.
One of the event’s most memorable moments was when each child received a printed copy of a Booksprint Namibia book – a gift that turned the joy of reading into a lasting memory.
To further promote access to early childhood literature, Booksprint Namibia books are available for free download or as e-books at www.booksprintnamibia.org. Many of the titles have been translated into eight Namibian languages, making culturally resonant literature more accessible to children across the country.
“This event underscores our commitment to promoting reading and cultural engagement from an early age,” said Detlef Pfeifer, Head of Library and Information at the Goethe-Institut Namibia. “Children need stories – to dream, to learn, and to develop their language.”
