Education Kenya Project #13015

Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

by Kenya Connect (KC)

Empower, Engage, Educate in Rural Kenya!

Project Report | Nov 4, 2019
Reading and Running: Read the Latest!

By Sharon Runge and James Musyoka | Executive Directors

Running to Read

"I am a Reading Champion!" Over 240 students completed our first ever Reading Challenge program. In June, library card holders at five schools were issued colorful Space Reading Challenge guides which were created by students at the Garrison Forest School in Maryland. Filled with word games and space facts, students wrote the names of read books in the Challenge guide. Students were charged to read at least 25 books. The top girl and boy readers were dubbed "Queen and King" and awarded special prizes at the Running to Read festival. Congratulations to King Reader Kyalo from Maanzoni and Queen reader Elizabeth from Kisola PS. Teachers commented that they've seen a big improvement in Elizabeth's writing skills as she began reading more books. She was the top reader with 48 books in the three months!

All students who completed the Reading Challenge were awarded a "Reading Champion" String bag and either crayons, colored pencils and a pen/pencil set depending on grade levels as well as NASA book marks and stickers. . We're building a culture of reading through these creative initiatives!

We also celebrated reading at our annual 5K Race. Students, teachers and friends adorned with Red, Green, White and Black T-shirts (the colors of the Kenyan flag) marched through Wamunyu to the beat of the Mathunthini Battalion marching band with Big Story Books, Reading Signs, and Smiles on their way to the start of "Running to Read," Kenya Connect's annual 5K race, through the hills of Wamunyu. The Run celebrates our work to be #TheVillageThatReads with students from 30 partner schools participating. Poet Moses Gold provided an inpiring talk and poem recitation to the gathered students and volunteers from the U.S. shared stories of their love of reading.

Even though the Kenyan school year just ended, our staff will still be bringing out our Magic School Bus and Reading Rover Truck to schools so that students can borrow books over the break. Fun Book Enrichment Days and other programs will be held to continue our quest to be #TheVillageThatReads!

GlobalGiving donors like you have been instrumental in helping us to build and nurture a culture of reading! The next time you pick up a book or read to your child or grandchild, know that a student in Kenya is reading thanks to you!

Warmly,

I Love Reading!

And they're off!

Reading Champions!

Word Games and Fun Book Enrichment Days!

The Power of Gorgeous Books!

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