Children read for pleasure in Siuna

• There are 43 reading circles in urban and rural areas
• Funded by Save the Children and implemented by IPADE

03.04.2014. Managua, Nicaragua. By Andrea Núñez-Flores Rey.

Around 675 children participate in 43 reading circles in Siuna the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN), since the project began in June 2013. Currently, from 10 to 20 kids assist to each group, most of them are from seven to 11 years old. The project, named Reading for Pleasure, is held in collaboration with the partner organization Institute for Development and Democracy (IPADE).

The important role of volunteers

These circles work with the support of volunteers, fathers and mothers, teachers and high school students, who support children in the reading; in addition, they offer their homes for group meetings. "There are around 15 children from Monday to Friday. I like that they come here, because they are in the neighbourhood and I help them learn to read, so they know the love of reading”, says a volunteer teacher.

The teacher and volunteer Martha Altamirano tell us that "now, they already read faster than when they started. Some children started coming when could not read, now they do. Furthermore, here they do not only read but have fun with other kids in a safe environment. "

The circles were promoted in the 15 schools that IPADE attends in Siuna, in rural and urban areas. These are organized according to the schedule of the children and their geographical position.

“To motivate reading groups, we need more books”

Children tell us excited what their favourite stories are "The Thumbelina! The Ugly Duckling! My grandmother loves me!”. “All of them share the books” says a volunteer and mother. “Parents are very supportive; they want their children to come. There are still illiterate adults and they see that their children are entertained and learn here".

"I have read all the stories there are here. My favorite is The Little Mermaid” says Yadira, a 9 years old girl. All volunteers and the children have asked for new books. "Initially, we gave 20 books per circle and they exchanged the stories between them. But the project is having such good results, that they have read almost all”, says the IPADE technician, Ninoska Moreno.

"In this area, there was no reading habit; many people considered it a waste of time”. This idea is slowly changing, thanks to education awareness campaigns that are held throughout the region.