Ignite Talk

Isl@nd of Openness for Children and Families:  Educational Bibliotherapy Programme

“Isl@nd of Openness for Children and Families” is a virtual chat site with bibliotherapy/literary and educational game elements created using new technologies. It is the first of its kind,  not only in Lithuania but also abroad. The content of the service was created in 2016, and it has been expanded and improved every year. Using a gaming environment and a playful “avatar” image, the service supports children and adults in creating harmonious relationships and strengthening mental health. Current users include children and adults living in Vilnius with multicultural and immigrant backgrounds who are experiencing social exclusion. The use of the platform is also being expanded through a network of partners – cultural, educational and social institutions of the city of Vilnius and the public libraries of the Vilnius City Municipality.

In 2020, the Ministry of the Interior recognized platform as the best initiative in the Vilnius region.  In 2021, the web portal “15 Minutes” in Lithuania, which examined the programs most responsive to the education of public welfare, evaluated the platform as successful in solving psychosocial problems of children and their parents while providing an attractive innovative game form. The platform was also nominated as “an ambassador” that “brings kindness to people”.

Host

Martyna Malienė

Martyna Malienė is the Senior Librarian at the Central Library of Vilnius City Municipality.