EAE collaborates in the Charity Book Campaign
30 de April de 2019
30 de April de 2019
World Book Day is a global celebration that aims to promote reading, the publishing industry and intellectual property protection. It is held on 23rd April, the date on which a number of acclaimed authors died, including Cervantes, Shakespeare and Garcilaso de la Vega.
Moreover, it coincides with Sant Jordi's Day (Saint George), an important tradition in Catalonia, in which roses and books are given to loved ones. To mark the occasion, EAE organized the Charity Book Campaign, which this year was held on the 23rd, 24th and 25th April, giving students the opportunity to buy books for 2 euros. The money raised goes to fund a number of cooperation projects.
Our partner organization for this initiative is the NGO Aida (Aid, Exchange and Development), which works to improve the quality of life of the poorest communities in developing countries and make Human Rights a universal reality, running cooperation projects and getting experts and professionals involved in development.
One of the organization's key initiatives is Aida Books&More, a chain of charity bookshops that sells second-hand books donated by individuals and institutions. They also run workshops, cultural activities and, most importantly, awareness-raising campaigns about the reality faced in the world's poorest countries. "We have 11 bookshops across Spain. In Barcelona, we have a store in the Gràcia neighbourhood", explained Toni Castro, a volunteer at the NGO, adding that all the money raised from the sale of second-hand books goes to fund projects in the third world.
EAE's experience on the campaign has been really positive. According to the Aida volunteer, "we have sold as many books in one day, 23rd April, as we did in three days last year. It has been a really dynamic and successful day". Toni Castro highlighted the fact that EAE tries to promote culture and a passion for reading. "As there are so many international students, we have the chance to show our culture and the tradition of Sant Jordi's Day to people from other countries".
In this respect, some of our students are not familiar with the legend of Sant Jordi and the day is a great surprise to them. One such case is Kevin Benítez, an Ecuadorian student who has run his own company since he was 19. He now wants to study to make sure he doesn't get left behind, so he is taking the Master in International Business. He explained that he had heard a few things about Sant Jordi. "It is the day of lovers, like Saint Valentine's Day in the rest of the world. Couples exchange books and roses but that's about all I know about the tradition".
Micaela Albujar, another Ecuadorian student on the Master in International Business, added that "it is an old tradition in which women are given a rose and men are given a book. I read that it is also World Book Day". Micaela finds the celebration fascinating and she loves the feel and smell of printed books. "I can concentrate better on a paper book than on a screen". She explained that, in her country, there is not a market in second-hand books, and new books are very expensive. "We lend each other books, but the number of people who share in this way is decreasing all the time".