World Vision’s Print-Rich Environment Initiative Promotes Literacy

Nine-year-old Meron, a good-hearted tween who pursues her childhood dream of becoming a pilot, lives in a small Ethiopian village, Digelu 01, with her parents and a younger brother. She attends Digelu Primary School, located in the Digeluna Tijo district. The third-grader had difficulty learning the alphabet, reading, and comprehension, feeling out of place with her classmates. Wishing for guidance or a magic trick, she found solace in all subjects, especially her native language, Afaan Oromoo, which means alphabet.

With World Vision Ethiopia’s support, then came a print-rich classroom along with a series of trainings for teachers. The literacy haven is where community children who are book enthusiasts come together, share their love for reading, and engage in discussions. It’s filled with books, sculptures, and drawings that not only improved Meron's memory, concentration, and reading skills but also unlocked her joy in retaining vocabulary and comprehension fluency.

It became her sanctuary, where she spent weekends carefully selecting books and losing herself in stories prepared for kids. Through the print-rich environment, not only has she developed her speed-reading techniques, but it has also helped her excel in her class. Now that she is already equipped with the tools to chase her dream, Meron is determined to work harder in her studies and make a difference in her village and beyond.

Mr. Aman Jemal, the focal person in the print-rich classroom, recognised its transformative power. The classroom is like nourishing food, metaphorically speaking, for it has strengthened students and ignited their passion for learning. Weekends have become sacred, adding a sparkle as the students race to the classroom, eager to dive into books and gain knowledge.

Expressing their deep gratitude, Mr. Aman and the students thank World Vision, which created an amazing and conducive learning environment and donated texts, etc. Literacy, which empowers and liberates, has soared, but more importantly, students vested interest in learning has blossomed. Meron is empowered by the organisation’s holistic approach. Her wish, which knows no bounds, to become a pilot may be real. Her heart has wings.

In the district, with 23 engaging reading camps, 2,430 students (of whom 1,212 are girls) are not only strengthening their reading, writing, and numeracy skills but also unlocking their potential. The literacy boost programme, a cornerstone of success, has continued to make waves in the primary focus area, improving children's and youth's literacy and equipping them with valuable life skills that will deliver a bright future.

By Fitalew Bahiru, Communications Specialist, World Vision Ethiopia