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Scolded for Reading?
Imagine a parent reprimanding a child for "wasting time" reading a book. We find it inconceivable that a child would be scolded for something that we know is good and beneficial, but in Uganda many adults find it difficult to understand the value of reading to a child or the family.
One of our students wanted us to share her experience with you to illustrate the difficulty children face when it comes to reading, an activity that can bring them freedom, hope, and increased maturity.
Blessing loved books until she wasn’t allowed to love them anymore. Her family wanted to see her be more productive with her time. Blessing shared, “One day my aunt threatened that she would destroy the storybooks I brought home from the school library by tearing them apart or setting them on fire.” Fearing having a school book destroyed, Blessing stopped reading anything except required school textbooks for several years.
We can change this narrative for others. While many caregivers in Uganda continue to discourage leisure reading, we are educating our caregivers and students about the importance and benefits of reading. Studies show that regular access to books and consistent exposure to reading over generations will create a culture of reading, and will ultimately lead families to brighter futures.
How can we help Blessing, and all the other young children like her in Uganda, develop a passion for reading? Join us today in giving the gift of reading to our students, and help them write a new chapter…a better chapter full of hope and opportunity.
Fragile Families Flourishing in the Hope of Jesus!
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