The power of books for young refugees
Deborah Soria
In Lampedusa, Italy, Deborah leads reading activities for young refugees who have fled their home countries. In a welcoming children’s library, Deborah uses wordless picture books to connect with the children, offering them a moment of normality amid their traumatic journeys. The children experience intense fear, knowing they cannot return home and facing an uncertain future in Europe. Through the power of books, Deborah provides a brief respite, allowing them to feel safe, laugh, and find solace in a world of stories.
Listen to Deborah
“Borders are places that are very rich in emotions and stories… books arrive as a very intense tool for refugee children.”
Deborah Soria
Deborah Soria
Deborah Soria develops reading activities in a small library on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa. In 2011, she started the Silent Book project with her simple desire to offer practical help to refugee children arriving in Lampedusa. Her vision was supported by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), and in 2012, the first library materialised on Lampedusa, spawning projects all over the world that use IBBY’s travelling set of Silent Books.
