Tirana Literature Festival - meetings around the book "The boy who sees with his fingers”
03.06.2026
On May 28-29, the "Open Mind, Open Heart" Literature Festival for children and young people took place in Tirana and the surrounding area, organized by Albania's largest publishing house, Dituria. The festival was an opportunity to promote the Polish book "The boy who sees with his fingers" by Tomasz Małkowski, illustrated by Joanna Rusinek.
The festival opened at the "President Wilson" School in Tirana. During the official opening ceremony, Polish guests were accompanied by Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic of Poland, Wojciech Unolt, and the book's Albanian translator, Astrit Beqiraj. Pupils had the opportunity to meet the authors of the book, discuss the process of creating the publication, and discover how literature can help build empathy and understanding for people with disabilities. The illustration workshops led by Joanna Rusinek were also very popular among the young participants.
A special highlight of the program was a visit to the school for blind and visually impaired children "Ramazan Kabashi" in Tirana, where the book's message took on exceptional significance. Discussions with pupils and teachers provided an opportunity for a very direct conversation about how literature helps break down barriers, teaches empathy, and shapes a more solidary social environment.
The third part of the festival took place at the "Haki Shehu" School in Petrela, on the outskirts of Tirana. Pupils and teachers met with the book's author and illustrator, and Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic of Poland, Wojciech Unolt donated a set of over 60 books, including those by Polish authors, purchased by the embassy to the school library. The publications will enrich the school's collection and serve students and teachers.
The two-day festival provided an opportunity to promote Polish children's literature in Albania and to discuss values such as empathy, solidarity, and openness to diversity. Numerous meetings with students demonstrated that literature can effectively build bridges between cultures and inspire young readers regardless of their origins.
We sincerely thank the organizers, all the schools, teachers, pupils, and guests from Poland for their commitment and cooperation in organizing this unique event.
