By Catherine Pierre
An Independent Reading Club geared at assisting children to develop their reading skills while cultivating a love for books was launched at the public library on Saturday April 30th under the platform “Improving Literacy”.
The program is the brain child of Shaqueilla Samuel, who secured the title of first runner up in the 2015 Festival pageant. As part of the competition, each contestant was required to introduce her platform, and Shaqueilla opted for “Improving Literacy”, a program she has now made into reality, as each contestant was encouraged to do by pageant organizers.
“That platform is important to me because as a kid I struggled with a mild form of Dyslexia so I understand what it is like to struggle with reading as a child,” Shaqueilla explained.
She noted that in todays’ economy more and more parents are working two jobs to be able to make ends meet and as such by the time they get home can barely muster up the energy necessary to assist children with reading. Recognizing this need she has taken steps to provide her assistance where necessary.
Prior to the official launch of the program, students were able to state their interest by registering with the forms provided to the school expressly for the reading program. According to Shaqueilla Samuel, there were initially forty children who expressed interests in participating in the program but only 25 actually showed up for the program launch.
“A number of parents and children told me after that they forgot the date because it wasn’t well publicized but that they are still interested.”
The reading sessions will take place every second and fourth Saturday of the month at 11:00 a.m. at the Montserrat Public Library. “I want to encourage kids to read and make reading fun for them.” She encouraged parents to give their children more education based games and materials as opposed to the electronic devices that are only used to play games. The program will be coordinated by Shaqueilla.
She is also thinking of her future education and told TMR she plans to take a break from work in the not to distant future so that she may pursue higher education at the University of the West Indies.
