Sahbeh Readership Initiative

OUTLINE: “Sahbeh Readership Initiative” is a non-conventional platform that works on creating the need and love of reading books among youth and adults by referring to alternative promoting tools and organizing workshops where reading is linked to fun, action and most of all inspiration.

CONCEPT: “Sahbeh” was inspired by a popular game -‘the surprise gift’ - Lebanese used to buy when they were children and was part of the collective memory. Children would purchase a sealed small package with a gift surprise hidden inside of it. Based on this nostalgic gadget, literary Sahbeh was further developed to sensitize youth and adults to read books. Thus instead of having the gift surprise for children, the initiative would bring a text surprise (excerpt from a book) in a form of a mini booklet of 16 pages, very well designed and appealing to its recipients reaching them in their daily lives : Thus a part of a book goes to people instead of waiting for people to go and fetch for books. The mini booklet would play the role of a teaser to acquire the full book raising awareness towards accessing public libraries in Lebanon.

MISSION: The mission of Sahbeh readership initiative is to sensitize and incentivize youth and adults to readership as a tool for empowerment by referring to innovative and non-conventional approaches.

LAUNCHING: The Initiative was launched in 2010 under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture as one of many remarkable projects funded during Beirut World Book Capitable. Sahbeh was disseminated in diverse venues such as Supermarkets, Schools and Coffee shops.

SAHBEH SEASON ONE
SAHBEH SEASON TWO - SCHOOL'S PROGRAM
SAHBEH ANIMATED
SAHBEH IN THE MEDIA