On a sunny morning, the St. Jude’s Primary School buzzed with excitement as volunteers from The Transformed Life Church (TLC) arrived for “Read Across Jamaica Day,” an event dedicated to promoting literacy and a love for reading. This national annual initiative aims to inspire young minds, and provide a much-needed boost to literacy in schools across the country.
Bringing Stories to Life
Classrooms were transformed into lively reading spaces, each filled with students eager for the stories to unfold. The volunteers read from an array of books, mainly from Jamaican authors, providing students with a range of genres to enjoy.
June Cooper, one of the 16 volunteers, read “The Little Tree That Triumphed” to a group of Grade 4 students, inspiring a conversation about resilience, and standing tall. Pastor Joan Fletcher captured the attention of the Grade 3 children with her engaging reading of “Love Like Lily,” which sparked the interest of one student to become an author. Over in a Grade 6 class, Trisha Lee captivated the students with her animated reading of “Arthur Loves to Run,” triggering laughter and fun games, as well as a creative crossword puzzle activity at the end. “Arthur Loves to Run” was a popular choice, with Juanita Williamson also reading it for children in Grades 4 and 6, leading to a lively discussion about sports and striving for excellence in whatever they love doing. Leonie Green gave a soothing reading to the Grade 1 students of a book on prayer, entitled, “I Imagine”. All the books were left with the school for their reading library, and each student received a token to mark the day.
Volunteers Making an Impact
The presence of the volunteers at St. Jude’s left a lasting impact, extending beyond the event itself. By encouraging literacy and a love of reading, they are contributing to a cultural shift in how reading is perceived within the community. Strong reading skills are essential for academic success and future opportunities, and the efforts of these volunteers are helping to pave the way for brighter futures.
Carey Lee Dixon, another of the volunteers, reflected on her own experience, “Recently, I served as a volunteer with 180 Degree Jamaica for Read Across Jamaica, reading to a group of thirty grade 2 children at St. Jude’s Primary – reading a book I typically don’t read but had so much fun reading and exploring as I leaned into my softer more nurturing and animated side to engage the group. To say I had the best time is an understatement; I read, entertained and encouraged the group for an hour – using different techniques to engage the group. I drew on Canva to show the children photos and videos to illustrate stories better and show real-world examples. Initially, I thought it was outside my comfort zone, but I realised I was in my zone, serving, leading and bringing the best version of myself to the fore while impacting lives in the way I was guided to.”
Inspiring a Lifelong Love for Reading
From all accounts “Read Across Jamaica Day 2024” at St. Jude’s Primary School was a success. As the event came to a close, students and volunteers alike reflected on the joy and learning shared throughout the day. Principal, Susanna Ainsworth, expressed her gratitude, saying, “Our students were truly inspired by the stories and the volunteers who shared them. The books are a wonderful addition to our school library, and we’re incredibly thankful for the support. This event has certainly inspired in them a lifelong love for reading”