Reading Club turns shy Lesline into a passionate reader
Lesline, 9 years old, is in 3rd form primary school. She has a passion for stories and books, but found it difficult to read fluently and write the words dictated. Every time she opened a book, the words seemed to dance across the page, getting mixed up and lost with each other. This frustrated her enormously, because she wanted so much to discover the wonderful stories hidden between the pages.
In her first year, she was identified as a weak student in reading and writing, with a percentage of less than 40% in this course. This weakness continued into the second year, which did not please her teacher. "Every time Lesline failed in reading and writing, I tried to insist on her learning, but because of a lack of textbooks, she always had difficulties", says Delphin, Lesline's teacher.
World Vision in its ANCP project decided to set up reading and maths clubs in Kalehe schools, supported and distributed reading manuals to encourage children to read. Lesline's teacher decided to enrol her in the club.
At the club's first session, Lesline was greeted by colourful books full of stories and fantastic teaching materials. She immediately felt at ease, surrounded by other children who shared her passion for books.
Each week, they meet to discuss the stories in the books, the texts they have read and practise reading aloud under the benevolent guidance of the club's mentors.
As well as taking part in the reading club, Lesline has also benefited from the distribution of reading manuals to help her overcome her reading difficulties. These manuals are interactive and engaging, making learning to read more fun for Lesline.
Over the weeks, the teacher has noticed a significant improvement in Lesline's reading. Thanks to the textbooks she brings home for her daily reading and her active participation in the reading club, she has gained her teacher's confidence and is beginning to read more fluently and write more correctly.
The book club has become a place where Lesline feels accepted and supported. The members have become her close friends, sharing not only books, but also laughter and moments of complicity
"Lesline's passion for reading has greatly contributed to her school results this year. Last year, 2022-2023, she passed with 56% because of the reading and writing course. But in the first term of the 2023-2024 school year, she passed with 62.8%, with 101/120 in Congolese language and 98/120 in French," says Delphin, her teacher.
Eventually, Lesline became an avid reader, devouring each new book with enthusiasm thanks to the support of the World Vision book club and the reading manuals, with each child having a book at home.
The ANCP project supports 1,200 children, including 600 young girls from Kalehe schools, grouped together in 30 reading and maths clubs. The aim of these clubs is to encourage a taste for reading, writing and maths among children, with a view to developing their reading, writing and maths skills in classroom situations.