June being Youth Month, READ Educational Trust encourages all South Africans not to turn the page on children’s fundamental freedom to learn and access to reading and literacy.
For READ Educational Trust, a non-profit organisation that has spent nearly four decades promoting literacy among the poorest of the poor, this month is all about sharing in the love and value of books and empowering Early Childhood Development (ECD) caregivers with the tools required to teach little ones to read with confidence.
Children who have never been exposed to the magic of books may perceive reading as boring, mundane, and futile. They don’t realise the beautiful impact reading has on brains, lifestyle and the future. READ is determined to change that.
While one can’t judge a book by its cover one can play a tangible role in shaping a child’s success by teaching them to read and, in turn, cultivate a deep love for literature and books. And this starts at grassroots.
As famed children’s author Dr Seuss so aptly put it, “the more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Whether one was a fan of Alexander and the Terrible, Frog and Toad are Friends or Fantastic Mr Fox during childhood, there’s no doubt one’s favourite book helped to shape creativity and imagination in some form or another. Books open doors into dreams of a world without limitations, and these can inspire action to change the world from the way it is.
Fifty-eight percent of South African children do not learn to read fluently and with comprehension in any language by the end of Grade 4, according to nationally representative surveys. A staggering 29% were completely illiterate.
READ successfully addressed some of these issues over the years, thanks to the implementation of ECD programmes that assist caregivers, educators, and principals of ECD centres in overcoming our country’s challenges. The organisation also provides practical training, hands-on support and valuable resources that have been highly effective.
The need, however, is both dire and vast. It takes time, dedication, a well-designed formula and creative resources to instil a reading culture.
A collective effort can change the face of South Africa. The only way to succeed is for governments, non-profit organisations, big businesses, and private individuals to stand together and do all they can to combat illiteracy by actively promoting and funding reading and educational incentives. What better time to act than during Youth Month?
Giving a child a book and gifting them with the skills to read it, one is giving them not with just the world, but the universe, infinite in possibilities.
