Antalya, Turkey, will host the first World Children’s Literature Forum (28 October -3 November 2024),as children's literature is confronted with global cultural and technological shifts.

Margarita Al, President of the World Organization of Writers "WOW" said that “regardless of the format or interface used to transmit the text, the main thing remains in the content itself. It is the word, which is the basis of any book, that shapes future generations. And the key task is to preserve this power of the word in the conditions of a rapidly developing world.

The first World Forum of Children's Literature is an international platform created for a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing modern children's literature. We bring together writers, artists, publishers, teachers and psychologists to discuss together how literature can remain a key tool for the education and development of children in a rapidly changing world. 

List of speakers

The Forum moderator is Almukhametova Margarita Viktorovna (Margarita Al), Russia-Kazakhstan who is a poet, philosopher, translator, publisher, literary scholar, researcher of metametaphor and Russian cosmism, President of the World Writers Organization "WOW", Director of the publishing houses "DOOS", "LIFFT", "WOW" and Founder of the literary magazine "LIFFT", the avant-garde poetry magazine "Poets' Magazine". Margarita Al Is the author of 4 books translated into English, French, Polish, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese and Hindi.

The list of speakers in WOW Children’s Literature Has Alexandra Ochirova, Russia the iconic Russian poet, author of 15 books of poetry. She is UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, PhD, full member of the Academy of Arts of the Russian Federation, statesman and public figure, Chairman of the Board of the World Writers Organization "WOW" and winner of the WOW Award in poetry.

Dr. Wale Okediran, Nigeria, Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA). He is novelist, and winner of WOW Award in prose.

Speakers also include Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, Egypt, writer, poet, journalist, author of travel literature. He is the author and translator of 44 books. President of the Asian Journalists Association (AJA), coordinator of the World Poetry Movement (WPM) in Egypt. Editor-in-chief of the Silk Road Today. Winner of the WOW Award, and winner of the Manhae Award in Literature.

From India, Dr. Prithiraj Taur joins the speakers. He is the Associate Professor of Marathi at Swami Ramananda Tirtha Marathwada University in Nanded. He is known as a Marathi poet, translator, editor, storyteller and ideological writer, critic. Dr. Prithviraj Taur has published more than 20 original books.

Andrey Igorevich Yavny, Russia, joins the list of speakers. He is writer, Doctor of Philosophy, Deputy Chairman of the Literary Fund of Moscow and Advisor to the head of the General Secretariat of the Assembly of the Peoples of Eurasia and Africa.

Poet, journalist, cultural promoter Tsvetkov Yuri Vyacheslavovich, Russia, joins the speakers . He graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of the Moldova State University, and Literary Institute named after A. M. Gorky. He is Laureate of the Small Prize "Moscow Account", and the Prize "Antologia" for organizing the exhibition "Literary Atlantis. He is also Co-founder of the social and literary movement "Cultural Initiative"

Azerbaijan’s writer Varis Elchiev will speak in the forum . He is the author of 18 books. He works as the Director of the state portal on culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan "Literature and Art "Ədəbiyyat və incəsənət"", Co-chairman of the Literary Council of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, member of the Board of the World Writers Organization "WOW", and Laureate of numerous international literary awards. Laureate of the WOW Award.

Adel Khozam, UAE, is among the WOW speakers. He is a writer, laureate of the WOW Award, and active participant in the literary movement in the UAE and in the international arena. He is known for his works, which reflect the problems of modern society and the cultural traditions of the Arab world. He is also Laureate of the WOW Award.

From Colombia comes Ruben Dario Flores Arcila, Colombia who is a poet, novelist and translator from Russian into Spanish. He is an adjunct Professor at the National University of Colombia, in the field of semiotics, linguistics and communication theory. He is also President of the Leo Tolstoy Institute of Culture, translator of works by Russian poets A. S. Pushkin, B. L. Pasternak, Arseny Tarkovsky.

Yakovenko Olga Vasilievna, Russia, is an expert of the Non-governmental Environmental Foundation named after V. I. Vernadsky, PhD in Philosophy.

Elena Tyulkina (Elena Shen), Turkey, writes for children. She is a playwright, and screenwriter. Her books include “Difficulties of Turkish Translation", "9 Lives of Martha the Cat", a collection of stories "Federative, 5". She works in the scriptwriting studio "Chirkutta". Her topic in the WOW forum will observe "Why Children Shouldn't Like Reading"

Boris Yuryevich Bersh, Russia, is the author of the novels: "Ghostly Happiness", "When Angels Cry", "Hiram's Hammer", "Metatron". He was born in 1973, and graduated from Rostov State University, Philosophy Department.

Olga Sineva, Russia, is candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor, Lecturer at the L.A. Verbitskaya Department of General Linguistics, Philological Faculty of St. Petersburg State University. Her publications include "Works of Modern Literature in the School Course "Literary Reading": Themes, Content, Images".

Irina Anatolyevna Rudenko, Turkey, is a teacher of Russian Language and Literature at the Private Moscow International School in Antalya (Republic of Turkey), and participant in the "Russian Teacher Abroad" project in 2024.

Three more Children's writers from Turkey joins WOW forum; Aysenur Arvaş Ağırman, Nilai Şanlı, and Feyzullah Arslan, who is the author of children's books: "Children learn traffic rules" (Çocuklar Trafik kurallarını öğreniyor), "Children and Horses" (Çocuklar ve Atlar).

Russian artist Natalia Pankova, Russia, is Honored Cultural and Art Worker of Nizhny Novgorod, member of the Union of Artists of Russia, Chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Public Organization "Russian Art"

Eldar Akhadov, Azerbaijan, writer, coordinator of the World Organization of Writers "WOW", honorary member of the Union of Writers of Azerbaijan, member of the Union of Writers of Russia, author of 80 books translated into many world languages ​​and Laureate of the "WOW" award.

The online forum coordinator is Dukelskaya Lyubov Ivanovna, who will join between speakers, both online and offline.

Margarita Al, President of the World Organization of Writers "WOW" said that “Without dividing the world into "old" and "new", "traditional" and "digital", it is important to find harmony between heritage and innovation, to create balance and synergy, where tradition and innovation coexist in a single space. In this space, each format - from the classic book to modern digital forms - finds its place, preserving the power of the word and influence on the formation and development of future generations. The central place at the forum will be occupied by a children's writer. No matter what format the book exists in - be it a classic printed version or a digital embodiment - the key word remains the author's word. The writer has always been and remains a conductor of meanings, cultural codes and values, and the children's writer - especially, because it is his / her word that shapes the perception of the world by the future generation.”