By KHT Staff. Info and images via TIFA.
KAOHSIUNG — A Kaohsiung-based nonprofit promoted World Book Day 2026 across Taiwan this month, saying the international event remains less widely recognized locally despite its global profile.
The Taiwan International Friendship Association (台灣國際友誼協會, TIFA) organized the campaign with schools, teachers, and community groups, aiming to encourage children and families to spend more time reading in an age of heavy digital media use.
World Book Day, established by UNESCO, is observed internationally as a celebration of books, authors, and reading. TIFA said its local campaign was designed to make the event more familiar to communities in Taiwan.
TIFA founder and chairperson George Carter said reading remains an essential life skill, especially as social media competes for people’s attention.
“Reading is a foundational life skill that opens doors to imagination, knowledge, and global understanding,” Carter said.
Amber Victoria Lynch, World Book Day advocate and director of TIFA’s 2026 organizing committee, said the campaign was also meant to broaden ideas about what counts as reading.
“Reading doesn’t have to be limited to Western literature or traditional formats,” Lynch said. “Children and adults alike should feel empowered to read whatever inspires them, whether it’s local stories, global narratives, comics, or educational texts.”
Activities included book exchanges, storytelling sessions, arts and crafts, character drawing workshops, creative writing activities, student performances, and children dressing as favorite book characters.
Participating schools and education groups included Oxford Language and Computer Institute (求精外語留學機構), Walton School Zeng Zi Branch (華頓教育機構曾子校), Wildman Waldorf School, and private teachers, according to TIFA.
TIFA also worked with Taiwan Love and Hope International Charity on a children’s reading event led by Carter and Lynch. Caves Books (敦煌書局) donated books for participating children.
TIFA said it hopes to make World Book Day an annual event with broader participation in Taiwan.
