Reading Camps: A gateway to literacy for children in Namwala district

Like many other developing countries, rural children in Zambia face various challenges to accessing education, such as long distances to schools, a lack of classrooms, and a lack of desks and textbooks. These challenges inhibit children's opportunities to read and write, which affects their chances of living better lives in the future.

Through the Empowering Vulnerable Children with Education project, World Vision Zambia, in joint partnership with Education Above All (EAA) Foundation’s Educate A Child Programme and FAWEZA, has been working with the Ministry of Education to promote literacy by engaging in Reading Camps for both in-school and out-of-school children in the Namwala district.

Reading camps are part of World Vision’s Unlock Literacy program. This innovative, evidence-based approach aims to improve teaching methods for classroom reading and engage students, families, and communities in reading activities outside of school. Reading Camps are outside-school learning sessions that complement what children learn in school and, in addition, develop a love for reading.

11-year-old Felister, one of 46 children benefiting from the Kalonga Reading Camp, is excited to have the opportunity to learn with others in reading camps.

“I am able to continue learning while playing various games at the reading camp with my three sisters and friends from the neighbourhood. And I am happy that my mother is allowed to come along with us to see what we do here,” shared Felister.

Felister’s mother, Mary Simafutu, excitedly explained that reading camps gave children an opportunity to learn how to read and write, which increases their chances of productive lives.

“It is important for me to ensure that children continue learning beyond their school time and are encouraged to develop a habit of reading throughout their lives. This is an opportunity I never had in my time, and I would like my children to seize this opportunity,” said Ms. Simafutu.

Mrs Fannet Moomba, one of the reading camp facilitators, explained that the capacity-building training they received from the EVE project had improved their teaching methods.

“Reading camps have given us various approaches to helping reluctant readers improve their reading skills through a variety of games. Felister, for example, used to be reluctant when she first joined in August 2023. She is currently a second-level reader who is able to construct simple sentences, and this has encouraged not only her siblings but also her neighbours to come along as well,” explains Mrs Moomba.

Education Above All’s Educate A Child programme and World Vision Zambia work to promote reading activities for in-school and out-of-school children through community Reading Camps in Zambia, where community volunteers and parents hold literacy sessions for children in rural areas of the country.