Serbia Read for Humanity: 811 Hours of Reading, 30 New Trees and One Shared Story
In a time when fewer people dedicate their hours to books and only one in ten people in Serbia reads regularly, the “Read for Humanity” campaign began with modest expectations. However, it concluded with results that exceeded all predictions – a total of 811 hours of reading in Belgrade and 14 other cities across Serbia, during which people of all generations read together and symbolically “planted” pages that will grow into 30 new trees in the future Expo Park, a lasting legacy of the Specialised Expo 2027 in Belgrade.
Inspired by the Belgrade Book Fair and the idea that reading can change both the individual and the world, the campaign reminded the public that the book remains one of the cornerstones of social development. Each person who took a book in hand during the campaign became part of a collective effort, as for every 27 hours of collective reading, one new tree was secured for the future Expo Park.
The “Read for Humanity” campaign was launched by EXPO 2027 doo Belgrade, in cooperation with cultural institutions across the country. During the International Belgrade Book Fair, reading came to life simultaneously at the Expo 2027 Playground in Hall 5 of the Belgrade Fair, as well as in libraries and schools in 14 cities throughout Serbia. Over nine days, the Expo 2027 Playground became a hub of literature, dialogue, and imagination. The campaign gathered leading writers, intellectuals, artists, and professors who, through readings, lectures, and discussions, revived the spirit of knowledge-sharing and highlighted the enduring value of printed books.
Supported by numerous public figures, “Read for Humanity” is the first in a series of initiatives that EXPO 2027 doo Belgrade will implement in the upcoming period, to address important social issues and inspire concrete actions that contribute to a better and more responsible society. In an era when screens dominate our attention and our thoughts scatter in the pace of daily life, this initiative served as a reminder that true values lie in simplicity: in words that connect, in silence that soothes, and in attention that brings us back to ourselves.
Each page read left its mark, and that mark inspired a story of enduring values. From every act of shared reading, a tree emerged as a living symbol of knowledge, hope, and humanity, a legacy for generations to come.
The campaign presented Serbia and the world with a new perspective on the social significance of reading printed books in the digital age, posing a question that transcends the realm of culture: Are we ready to invest more effort to ensure that reading endures, and continues to cultivate the habits of perseverance and focus in a time of fast and shallow content?
