Reading for Change

About the Project

Reading for Change is a series of discussion groups centered around books focused on democracy, women’s rights, human rights, diversity, religious reform, development culture, and peace.

Project Philosophy

Reading for Change is an educational and intellectual initiative launched in 2013 to promote a culture of democracy, human rights, religious reform, and sustainable development by establishing grassroots reading groups across Sudan.
The project is founded on the belief that awareness-building is the essential gateway to achieving deep social and political change. It invites small groups to meet weekly and engage critically with carefully selected books addressing issues of democratic transformation, diversity, gender equity, and peace.

How the Reading Groups Work

• The coordinator contacts a group of acquaintances (6 to 10 people) who are connected to one another—or to the coordinator—through some shared context (association, residence, study, cultural center, etc.), and introduces them to the project.

• The project’s administrative team sends the coordinator copies of one of the Reading for Change book titles, matching the number of group members.

• The coordinator distributes one copy to each participant. The book becomes the participant’s personal property (a home library copy). The group then agrees on a time to meet and discuss the book after reading it individually (meetings typically last two hours per week).

• Participants arrive at the discussion session having written a few lines reflecting on what they gained from the book.

• In the first session, the group appoints a note-taker—either permanently or on a rotating basis—to record a brief summary of each discussion. They also choose a discussion lead who presents the book’s main themes before opening the floor to group dialogue.

• At the end of each discussion, the next book is distributed, and the group agrees on the next meeting time. More than one session may be dedicated to a single book if needed.

• With the support of the note-taker, the coordinator prepares a concise report of each session, ensuring the essence of the discussion is captured accurately yet briefly.

• Once the group finishes reading the assigned titles, they may request new ones from the Democratic Thought Project (a list of available publications is provided).