Educational Workshops
Educational and artistic workshops represent an essential axis of work for Lilipad. They help us cultivate our libraries as learning spaces beyond the formal school environment. These workshops complement the books and materials we provide, and bring joy and laughter to our communities while consistently offering a learning opportunity. They offer children the opportunity to try a new discipline, meet other kids, and develop their artistic senses. They directly contribute to their well-being, as they develop children’s socio-emotional skills: among those are self-expression and self-confidence. On a collective level, by creating alongside other children, children also develop tolerance, collaboration and cooperation.
Art-driven community libraries
Our workshops exemplify how art serves as a vibrant catalyst to breathe life into children’s libraries, fostering a more impactful and engaging environment, especially for marginalised children. Through our workshops, we transform our libraries into dynamic spaces where creativity knows no bounds. These artistic experiences not only ignite the imagination but also empower young minds, enabling them to explore and express themselves through various art forms. By integrating art into our library programs, we provide marginalised children with a unique avenue for learning and self-expression, creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that transcends the conventional library experience. Our workshops demonstrate that art is not just a medium of expression but a powerful tool for enriching lives and nurturing a lifelong love for reading and learning among the youth.
Our Berlin workshops
In our Berlin libraries, we offer a diverse selection of reading, storytelling and artistic workshops. These activities come to life through the collaborative efforts of our dedicated team, external facilitators, and, on occasion, invaluable partner organisations. At the core of our mission is a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity and multilingualism, ensuring that our workshops are not only conducted in German but also, whenever possible, in additional languages such as Arabic, Farsi, or Ukrainian. All leverage diverse art forms to transform the act of reading and engagement with books into a deeply enriching and joyful experience
Some examples of our latest workshops include:
Fairy Tales read-aloud sessions with the inclusive versions of Fairy Tales Retold (blog post)
Rap workshop series with Refuge Worldwide, including lyric writing and music production
Kamishibai workshops (a form of Japanese street theatre storytelling)
Our Jinga & Casablanca workshops
Our libraries in Uganda and Morocco provide a consistent variety of reading and storytelling exercises and activities, thanks to our Lilipad Librarian program. In each of these locations, we sponsor a full-time librarian and educator to transform the library into a positive and active learning environment..
Support our mission
Education is the single most powerful tool to lift children out of poverty. If you would like to support our mission through a partnership or funding, reach out to us!