As of: February 28, 2024, 8:15 a.m
By: Sven Trautwein
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Olivia Jones receives the German Reading Prize 2024. © Malte Ossowski/Sven Simon/Imago
Olivia Jones has made a name for herself as a quick-witted and dazzling TV personality.
In 2024 she will receive the German Reading Prize.
Various studies have shown that around a quarter of primary school children cannot read well.
Reading skills have been declining in Germany for years.
Around three million children in Germany are not read aloud much.
There are ways to make reading aloud exciting.
In order to strengthen the promotion of reading for young people and make it publicly visible, the Reading Foundation and the Commerzbank Foundation have been awarding the German Reading Prize since 2013.
In 2024 Olivia Jones will receive the German Reading Prize.
German Reading Prize 2024 to Olivia Jones
Olivia Jones, Germany's most prominent drag queen, is much more than just a strikingly styled face in media like RTL and ProSieben.
She is known for her flashy, glamorous appearance and her cheeky sayings.
But behind the successful entrepreneur and former “Miss Drag Queen of the World” lies a committed fighter.
Jones is passionate about tolerance and diversity.
She is committed to the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and acts as an advocate for young people.
She strives to combine “entertainment with attitude” as often as possible.
Her efforts were recently recognized when she, along with Steffen Hallaschka, was awarded the German Television Prize for their documentary series “Dying for Beginners.”
Olivia Jones is not only a colorful personality, but also a committed activist and award-winning documentary filmmaker.
In a short interview with the Reading Foundation, Olivia Jones answers how she gets involved and whether she was read to.
Olivia Jones in an interview: Reading aloud is important
Your own children's book, reading campaigns and strong commitment to daycare centers and schools: Why is promoting reading important to you?
Everything begins with reading and reading aloud conveys a feeling of connection and trust, which is particularly important in times like ours.
Anyone who reads not just short texts on the internet and social media, but also longer texts from books, stimulates their imagination, learns new things and can learn an incredible amount.
Children and young people understand themselves and their feelings better through books, but they can also better classify their surroundings.
For me, reading and encouraging quiet listening, even for longer than a short TikTok, are the basis for an open society characterized by mutual respect - something that is very important to me and what we are also committed to with “Olivia sets a precedent”.
That's why for me the German Reading Prize also goes to our family ambassador Veuve Noir, who lives and supports this great project.
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Was there a lot of reading in your family? How did that influence you?
My mother often read to me.
I loved it because it brought whole new worlds to life for me, even before I could read myself.
By the way, it already became apparent that I was somehow more fascinated by the princesses than the proud knights.
I can only recommend the bedtime story as a ritual if your family doesn't already have one.
Because it's so easy to fit in reading aloud every day and it also helps you slow down and fall asleep, you just have to pull yourself together so that you don't fall asleep while reading aloud with so much deceleration.
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Her project “Olivia goes to school” has been around since the publication of her children’s book “No Fear in Other Ways”, i.e. for around 10 years. Time for an interim assessment?
We never imagined what would become of this idea.
It started with the children's book and a harmless school request, and now there are small tours across the country.
The demand is now far greater than our capacities.
Of course we are happy about so much support, but the fact that there is more and more need makes us think.
But what is particularly important to me: “Olivia goes to school” is not a purely queer project.
Our initiative is generally about human interaction with one another, tolerance, diversity, respect and the fight against bullying, intolerance and exclusion.
But for many students, it's really the first time they've met an openly gay person.
And when they then realize that apart from the question of orientation, they are often very similar, then that creates more trust than any teacher appeal can create.
Children need role models when reading/reading aloud. Your appeal to everyone who doesn't read aloud yet?
Reading aloud conveys security, creates trust and connection, is fun and educates.
Not just those who listen, but also those who read.
Audiobooks are really a great thing.
But as an artist with almost 25 years of stage experience, I can say: Even in digital times, nothing beats a live performance.
So parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents or other volunteers, get started!
And if you don't know how to get started: www.stiftunglesen.de
German Reading Prize 2024: Ceremonial award ceremony in Berlin
On February 27, 2024, the Humboldt Carré in Berlin will be the venue for the ceremonial awarding of the German Reading Prize.
The event will be accompanied by the moderator Mona Ameziane.
Among the approximately 300 expected guests are the initiators of the Reading Foundation and the Commerzbank Foundation, as well as the category partners Arnulf Betzold GmbH, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media, the German Association of Cities and the German Television Lottery, FRÖBEL e.
V. and the PwC Foundation.
The well-known reading ambassadors Harriet von Waldenfels, Jennifer Knäble, Jochen Schropp, Nina Moghaddam and Sally Özcan are also expected.
The musical highlight of the evening is provided by Dominic Vona, whose authentic voice, stirring energy and rocking sound inspire the audience.
About Olivia Jones
The most renowned drag queen in Germany is Olivia Jones.
Through her legendary neighborhood tours, bars and clubs, she has earned a reputation not only in St. Pauli but far beyond.
Olivia is a sought-after presenter, a best-selling author and was honored with the German Television Prize.
She is also an ambassador for the Reading Foundation and proudly takes on the role of combining “entertainment with attitude”.
She uses her popularity to promote better social interaction.
Among other things
She published “Keine Angst in Andersrum”, a children’s book for tolerance, diversity and respect.
The book is even on the recommendation list of the Ministry for Equality in Saxony-Anhalt, is part of the Kita kit there and is offered to schools and kindergartens free of charge through its “Olivia goes to school” initiative.
In the young adult book “Wolf”, Saša Stanišić also deals with the topic of bullying.
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