Henri Becker triumphs in the Lesedino regional vote held in Dillingen, signifying a potent boost for literary advocacy

In the heart of Saarland, the city of Dillingen played host to the regional finals of the Lesedino reading competition last week. The event, which marked the culmination of months of rigorous preparation, brought together ten school champions from various regions across the state.

The competition, now in its 25th year, aims to ignite a love for reading in children and combat alarming figures from the IGLU study, which shows that one in four children in Germany cannot read properly by the end of fourth grade.

Henri Becker, a pupil from Hemmersdorf's primary school, emerged victorious in the Saarlouis district and will represent the region at the state finals on June 11 at the Ministry of Education and Culture. His victory was a testament to his dedication and passion for reading.

Joining Henri in the competition were Lara Tedizia Neibecker, Jan Jungmann, Emre Karaoglan, Greta Paulus, Elise Ogrodniczek, Sebastian Theis, Dalia Helmich, Anna Rödel, and Selina Puhl. Each participant presented a familiar and an unfamiliar text to a four-member jury, which included Petra Schmitt, Jana Rupp, Marlies Böhm, and Carmen Gerecht.

Petra Schmitt, the head of the culture, school, and sports department of the city of Dillingen, served as the jury's chair. Marlies Böhm, a retired teacher and local dialect author, brought her wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. Jana Rupp, a reporter for the Saarbrücken newspaper, and Carmen Gerecht, a representative from the Ministry of Education, completed the jury.

The beaming faces of the children suggested that the mission of the Lesedino competition is alive and well. Dana Funke, the director of the city library, welcomed the children and served as the competition's moderator. At the end of the competition, each participant received a certificate and a small gift in recognition of their hard work and dedication.

Mayor Christian Finkler and Carmen Gerecht from the Ministry of Education praised the children's dedication and expressed their hope that the Lesedino project sends a clear message for sustainable reading promotion. Reading, according to Dana Funke, opens doors and illuminates the world.

The Lesedino competition involves nearly 7,000 participating students from around 350 classes, which is nearly 80% of all Saarland primary schools. The project, which has been running for a quarter of a century, continues to inspire and engage young minds, fostering a love for reading that will last a lifetime.