AFCC 2018 Launch & Keynote Address
AFCC 2018 Launch & Keynote Address

Audience at AFCC 2018 Launch & Keynote Address
Audience at AFCC 2018 Launch & Keynote Address

Championing Diversity In A Volatile World

Why is it important for children to see themselves represented in the books and media they consume?  What does it really mean to "Champion Diversity in a Volatile World"? 

To officially launch the Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2019, join us for the opening keynote as our distinguished speakers offer their views on this year’s festival theme of Diversity in a series of keynote addresses, followed by a panel discussion. 

(Sign-language interpretation and note-taking services will be available for this session.)

Keynote Speakers

The Role Of Translation In Bridging Cultures
By Helen Wang 

When a story is brought from one culture to another, translators are the unsung heroes who bridge the gaps between the author and their new readership. Award-winning translator Helen Wang reveals the hidden work that goes into her role, and the responsibility that translators bear in promoting cultural awareness and diversity in children’s literature.

Seeing Through Their Eyes: Publishing’s Imperative to Represent All Voices
By Sara Sargent

Sara Sargent, Senior Executive Editor at Random House Children’s Books, discusses how she sources, develops, and publishes books that address the key issues facing young people today. By being inclusive of all lived experiences across gender, sexuality, mental health, race, and ableness, publishers can help kids feel seen and heard.  

How Diversity in Visual Art Affects Children’s Sense of Self and Other 
By Mary George

These days, we see laudable representations of diversity in visual content for children. Some of these works avoid obvious markers of difference such as ethnicity, while others are more overt in their portrayals, featuring identifiable physical characteristics and cultural motifs. Psychologist Dr Mary George explores how these visual representations in books and media affect children’s sense of self and the other.