September 10: Premier IB Continuum School marked the International Literacy Day 2022 on Thursday by organising a literature festival alongside a food fest. The school said in a statement that “the wide array of activities, that celebrated international and national literature, kept the students and visitors engaged throughout the day.”

According to the statement, international authors and illustrators including Sally Alstchuler from Denmark, Maria Amelia Jannarelli from Brazil, Lawrence Shimel from Spain and Sassa Buregren from Sweden interacted with students online on a wide variety of subjects. The topics discussed during the online interaction were reading and writing on different themes, how to select a book according to grade level, opportunities and challenges of developing books for children and young adults in the context of developing countries, and much more, added the statement.

“Besides the international exposure, students got to interact with local celebrities and authors/illustrators through in-person discussions, workshops, and panel discussions,” reads the statement.

Some notable examples, according to the school, were a session on music, literature, and social change by popular singer-songwriter Samriddhi Rai, session on understanding poetry by celebrated poet, Viplov Pratik, interesting illustration sessions that encompassed both the historic, mythological and modern by Dhruba Prajapati and Binita Buddhacharya, and an engaging panel discussion on “The art of telling stories through movies’ that included Gaurav Pahari, Bijay Baral, Hem Raj BC. The panel discussion was moderated by Sujan Oli.

The school’s Director Pawitra Limbu had an engaging session with parents on “Bonding with Books”. Also, around 90 students and teachers from Harisiddhi Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Harisiddhi, Prabhat Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Gwarko, and Namuna Machhindra Madhyamik Vidyalaya attended the festival.

According to the statement, a range of food stalls served delicacies that “everyone enjoyed”.

“One USP of the event was that students could discover that literature and stories are everywhere – in the history of food, music, drama, and movies – and not just limited to books. With enthusiastic involvement and participation of students, parents, special invitees, and partners, this was a day to remember,” added the statement.