Why Do you like to read? “I like to read because I want to be a writer”. Evelyne expressed. Most of us born with some talents but sometimes kids like Evelyne from rural areas like Rwinkwavu-Rwanda lack an opportunity to develop their talent. Evelyne is 11 years old, she is in Primary 4 and really loves to write her own short stories. She dreams to be a writer.

Evelyne at National Literacy Month Closing event- September 2017

LAST YEAR RECAP! Last year, International Literacy Day (8 September) has globally celebrated under the theme of ‘Literacy in a digital world’. On 8 September 2017  Ready for Reading held this celebration alongside with closing Ceremony to end National Literacy Month with a theme of “The power of reading”. In collaboration with different stakeholders named: Ministry of Sport and Culture-MINISPOC and RwandaReads, Ready for Reading had organized the literacy month activities in Eastern Province with the overall aim to take enough time to bring these different of these literacy activities to the community in their homes, schools, Libraries, and communities especially for all people  who need such programmes to leverage the opportunities that this special month provides but fail to access them. At Ready for Reading. Literacy programs are giving new possibilities to people in Rwinkwavu Community to improve all areas of their lives including access to information; networking; social services; financial services like banking and mode of work.

We are achieving these through after-school learning programs available at Rwinkwavu Community Library and Learning Center that give full opportunities to all range of people to learn even when they can’t imagine that they can acquire literacy skills due to their age. Musabe Drocelle receiving her literacy Certificate at 58 years old on December 21, 2017

When looking back on the impact of acquiring literacy skills,  It is an occasion to mark achievements and reflect on ways to counter remaining challenges for the promotion of literacy as an integral part of lifelong learning within and beyond the 2030 Education Agenda. We promise to serve you even more brilliantly in 2018! And illiteracy.

On October 11th, Rwinkwavu parents, local officials and community members came together in solidarity and joyful celebration of International Day of the Girl. Our girls clubs participated in LitWorld’s annual global “Stand Up for Girls” event centered around storytelling, writing and art to raise awareness of the challenges girls face in our community and worldwide.

 Literacy awareness campaign with Read Aloud, Story telling and reading competition-  September 5, 2017

Literacy rates continue to rise from one generation to the next. Yet according to new data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, there are still 750 million illiterate adults, two-thirds of whom are women. These numbers are a stark reminder of the work ahead to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 5 and the Education 2030 targets. The latest data show remarkable progress on youth literacy. 50 years ago, 22% of people between the ages of 15 and 24 lacked basic literacy skills compared to 9% today, and young people in Africa and Asia in particular, are far more likely to be literate than they were half a century ago. In Rwanda Adult literacy rate increased from 57.9 % in 1991 to 71.2 % in 2015 growing at an average annual rate of 5.42 %. Adult (15+) literacy rate (%). Total is the percentage of the population age 15 and above who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. There is hope that the literacy will increase in the future considering the fact that almost all children of primary school age, girls and boys, are encouraged to be in school since 2012. But still, 5.1% of females aged 7-18 years and 6.2% of boys of the same age have never attended school. To this end, Ready for Reading initiative is part of filling this gap providing a variety of after school educational opportunities that bring together all people, including kids who dropped out, kids in school and all kind of graduates, where they are able to access a wide range of literacy programs, digital literacy and other education opportunities through different platforms. On the commitment of responding to the above mentioned illiteracy rate, Ready for Reading, since 2013, is working with a wide range of partners through Rwanda Reads platform to promote a culture of reading and literacy throughout Rwanda. Rwanda Reads aims to cultivate a culture of reading in a holistic, coordinated manner toward advancing a more literate society better capable of contributing to its own progressive and prosperous future Since 2013, Ready for Reading organizes monthly literacy awareness campaigns in different administrative Sectors of Kayonza District where we reach people in their homes, schools and in their communities. This year, through partnership with Ministry of Sport and Culture- MINISPOC. Rwinkwavu Community Library and Learning center is representing the Eastern Province in National Literacy Month conducting literacy campaigns and in schools and communities in the whole Eastern Province of Rwanda. September 5, 2017 the first campaign started at Groupe Scholaire Gishanda where around 350 students in primary and secondary School and their teachers attended the sessions and really enjoyed learning more about the power of reading and its last long impact. Keep following us for updates and insights about our National Literacy activities.