The Reading Festival Initiative

The Reading Festival was born in 2024 out of discussions between local organisations on the island of Sint Maarten, who then collaborated alongside Biblionef Nederlands. Together, the aim was to make the joy of reading more accessible to children in the Caribbean. The collaboration has created vibrant spaces where stories come alive, imagination thrives, and every child can experience the magic of books, regardless of their background or language. Since the first festival in Sint Maarten, the Reading Festivals’ successes mean that there will be additional festivals held in Aruba (February 2026) , Curacao (March 2026) and another in Sint Maarten in October 2026.

Each festival is designed as an engaging platform full of storytelling, creative workshops, and interactive games that place books at the heart of the experience. Biblionef’s local partners choose which age group the Reading festivals focus on. By alternating between both primary school children and secondary children, we hope to encourage a lifelong love for reading amongst all children whilst also strengthening their language and literacy skills.

The Reading Festivals are more than just joyful events — they are part of a larger movement by bringing local communities together to promote quality education and equal opportunities for all children. By participating, partners and organizations directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

  • SDG 4 – Quality Education: fostering literacy and learning through access to books and reading activities.
  • SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: ensuring that all children, regardless of their situation, can benefit from the power of stories.
  • SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: uniting schools, libraries, ministries, NGOs, and volunteers in a shared mission to make reading accessible and fun.

Want to know who our partners are?
Visit the Reading Festival editions by country to learn more.

Would you like to become a partner or sponsor?
Get in touch with us! We’d love to collaborate with you to bring the joy of reading to even more children.