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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
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Local Club Host Reading Events to Promote Reading
Nassau, Bahamas – 2013 has truly been a banner year for the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise who early in the year set an aggressive Literacy Agenda for itself. This agenda included a literacy book drive at local bookstores, Reading Time at Willard Patton Pre-School and two mini Reading Fairs at the Ranfurly Home for Children and the Willamae Pratt Centre for Girls.
Literacy Chair Lynette Taylor said “The Club decided to expand its literacy program this year after we recognized the need to promote and encourage literacy especially in our schools and instead of doing just the annual reading fair we decided to do two mini reading fairs in addition to a book drive and launching Reading Time.”
Reading Time is a program that was launched in partnership with the Willard Patton Pre-School and affords Rotarians and opportunity to read to and mentor the students. Every Friday at 12pm dedicated members of the Club take time out of their busy schedules to bring classic stories to life such as the Gingerbread Man and Red Riding Hood, all to the delight of the students. Rotarian Jeff Wright stated, “It’s truly a pleasure to spend a Friday afternoon with these students. It is the best part of my day and I look forward to it every Friday."
In addition to Reading Time the Club also organized a successful book drive at various book stores on New Providence and received a donation of used books from Sandals Royal Bahamian Hotel. All books collected were donated to the Reading Time program as well as to libraries and schools in Eleuthera and Nassau.
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Following the success of Reading Time and the Book Drive Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise culminated their literacy program by hosting two mini Reading Fairs firstly at the Ranfurly Home for Children and the most recent, which was held at the Willimae Pratt Centre for Girls. Both fairs provided an intimate setting where Rotarians shared their life stories with the students and engaged them in fun-filled activities featuring arts and crafts lessons on different aspects of the Bahamian culture like Junkanoo and Tye Dying. At the end of the day each student was allowed to choose a book from the many books on display and both fairs ended with a pizza party for the students.
“Overall I think the reading program this year exceeded our expectations. We wanted a program that could have a greater impact on the lives of the children involved and I think we achieved this” said Smith. I continue to be amazed at the potential that these students possess. Every time we visit a school or children’s home we get so much more in return. All it takes is for us as a community to take a little time out of our busy schedules to share a little of ourselves with these students and to mentor them” Smith said.
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