Young Readers Day commemorated with a call to embrace technology in inculcating reading culture
Worldreader Program Manager Austin Okoth with Kidogo Centre of Excellence Lilian Warui taking some pupils through a digital book during yesterday's event in Kangemi, Nairobi.
By Our Correspondent
Worth Noting:
- “The Booksmart application allows the young people to read without cost. Through this initiative, we want to have a better world powered by readers,” Mr Okoth said during the colourful ceremony that was characterised by Booksmart activity of reading, dramatisation and questions by pupils from Kidogo centre.
- He disclosed that through digital reading, they were able to reach out and assist thousands of pupils from low-income areas of Nairobi to read when Corona epidemic was at its peak in the country.
- He further revealed that they have initiated another programme dubbed “Cheza, Soma Jifunze (CSJ)” where pupils aged between 3 and 5 years are targeted.
Use of digital application technology is the easiest way of enhancing reading culture among the young people.
This will eventually lead to a better world powered by readers.
Speaking during the commemoration of Young Readers day, Mr Austin Okoth said a Non-Governmental organisation had come up with an Application from which, young readers can easily access various hooks, download them and read.
The organization, Worldreader has “Booksmart” application which has thousands of book in English and Kiswahili languages written books.
Mr Okoth who is the organisation’s Program Manager said they were targeting young readers of between 3 and 12 years.
The day was commemorated at Kidogo Centre of Excellence in Kangemi area, Nairobi County.
“The Booksmart application allows the young people to read without cost. Through this initiative, we want to have a better world powered by readers,” Mr Okoth said during the colourful ceremony that was characterised by Booksmart activity of reading, dramatisation and questions by pupils from Kidogo centre.
He disclosed that through digital reading, they were able to reach out and assist thousands of pupils from low-income areas of Nairobi to read when Corona epidemic was at its peak in the country.
He further revealed that they have initiated another programme dubbed “Cheza, Soma Jifunze (CSJ)” where pupils aged between 3 and 5 years are targeted.
Under this programme, Worldreader hopes to improve the quality of reading for the young ones when they are in school and home.
During the upcoming long holidays, Worldreader is planning to be sending books to the pupils under their programme so as to keep them busy.
“Reading open variety of opportunities and that is why we are keen to keep on encouraging the culture of reading,” he noted.
More than 270 teachers have been trained so far to assist pupils in inculcating the reading culture in areas such as Mukuru, Kibera and Kangemi where Worldreader in collaboration with Kidogo Centre of Excellence runs the programmes.
Among other speakers included the institution’s Lilian Warui and Harriet Muhonja as well as Worldreader’s Muthoni Mohunyu.
The day was used to mark the Young Readers Day whose objective is to encourage and build a reading culture among children.
Worrying reports including from the World Bank have cited the prevalence of a poor reading culture among children in the region compared to other regions, with up to 50 per cent of pupils in Class 3 unable to read for comprehension.
The month of November has traditionally marked various initiatives like the annual Young Readers Day whose objective is to encourage and build a reading culture.
Worldreader is an international NGO working to improve the reading and socio-emotional outcomes of children and communities through digital reading.
The organisation believe that readers are capable of building a better world and seek to leverage key digital technologies, digital content, pedagogical support, and data to improve education. The NGO works globally, nationally and locally to provide quality reading and teaching support for the integration of innovative education and technology programs aimed at ending learning poverty.
Over the past 10 years, Worldreader has reached more than 21 million people in communities where paper books, including storybooks and textbooks, are scarce.
The firm supports programs in five regions (East and West Africa; Latin America; the Middle East-North Africa; and South Asia) while readers across 82 countries benefit from its digital library.
Since 2010, Worldreader has distributed over 40 million digital books to readers around the world.
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