Written by Cathryn Nicole Guillo
Arkansas students are being offered the opportunity to help students in Rwanda by raising funds throughAfricaReads Inc., a new non-profit organization dedicated to equipping and empowering Rwandans through literacy.
“Our organization is unique because it does not provide relief or aid, or force western culture into the African way of life, but rather provides the necessary tools to help Rwanda build capacity,” said Ron Cook, head of public relations for AfricaReads.
Ken Stamatis, an educational consultant, started AfricaReads after making a trip to Rwanda in the summer of 2009. During his trip, Stamatis spoke with many Rwandans.
“Everyone I spoke with said an increased access to reading material would result in increased academic performance and improved social and economic capacity,” said Stamatis.
As head of the graduate reading program at Harding University, Stamatis is reaching out to teachers who have graduated from his program or have been a part of his literacy labs and clinics to help raise money for AfricaReads.
Students of these teachers have jumped at the chance to help out with the project. In fact, students in Blytheville, statistically one of the most economically disadvantaged cities in the state, started their own collection jar for AfricaReads without solicitation. Students in classrooms across the state are being asked to do the same.
The immediate goals of AfricaReads are to send bookmobiles with culture-appropriate books to Rwanda to make literature accessible to children and youth at schools; to offer professional development to Rwandan teachers in literacy instruction; and to coordinate and support short term missions of university students and teachers from America to assist initiatives in Rwanda.
University student Meredith Taylor plans on being part of a short-term mission team headed to Rwanda this coming summer.
“I have wanted to go to Africa for years. I want to see the culture and experience it all because it is so incredibly different. AfricaReads is a great opportunity to do this and to understand the needs present in Rwanda. I want to help as much as I can and [AfricaReads] is a great organization to do so with,” said Taylor
The long-term goal is to multiply across Rwanda the work and resources of AfricaReads through indigenous application by local teachers and community leaders.
