RCRT - Literacy Initiatives

Posted by Sonia Webster 
on Sep 17, 2015
 

Rotary Expands Local Literacy Initiatives 

Story by Lavina Liburd

Basic Education and Literacy is one of the key Rotary International Areas of Focus noted RCRT Past President Elvis Harrigan.  This year the Rotary Club of Road Town’s literacy initiatives go well beyond the annual Dictionary Distribution to class three/ grade four students in the territory. 
 
The Press Conference on Literacy hosted by the Rotary Club of Road Town, was held at the Moorings Conference Room at Wickham’s Cay II, yesterday September 15th.  The panel of presenters included Ryan Geluk, President of the Rotary Club of Road Town, Teacher Lynden Smith, Co-President of the BVI Reading Council, Lion’s Club District Governor Marvin Grant, Mrs. Carleen Parsons, Principal of the Enis Adams Primary School, and Ms. Evangeline Inniss-Springer from the Department of Disaster Management.
 
“The ability to read, write, and communicate connects people to one another and empowers them to achieve things they never thought possible.” President Ryan opened his presentation with a quote from Frederick Douglass, former slave and noted abolitionist who stated, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” He went on to state that “literacy doesn’t only refer to the ability to read and write; we must also consider areas such as literacy in knowing what to do in case of disasters; literacy to recognize and understand the effects of diseases.”  These are of course, references to the education component of the Disaster Risk Reduction Program in which Rotary is partnering with DDM, and the clubs ongoing emphasis on Health education through its Annual Health Expo and now the Alzheimer's Awareness Campaign.  Also noted were Rotary’s participation in the Books for Babies program, reading to children at East End Public Library and Community Center, and new “Word for Word” program.   
 
 
 
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Teacher Lynden noted that it was her pleasure and passion to be a part of literacy in the Virgin Islands, a passion shared, she said with President Ryan who she "likes very much".  "My mother taught me how to read, but my father taught me to love reading", teacher Lynden said recalling that her father would read to all ten children in the evenings.  She presented the goal of “15 minutes reading, Every parent, Every child, Every day” which is easily achieved via a bedtime story. And noted that if a child doesn't learn to read by Grade 3, they are very likely to drop out of school later.
 
Lions’ specific area of partnership with Rotary is Alzheimer's Awareness stated Lions District Governor Marvin Grant. This ties into the theme of Health Education and Literacy which is a major focus for both Lions and Rotary.  DG grant referred to the MOU signed originally between Lion's PDG Boncamper and Rotary PDG Vance Lewis which is now being put into action with the Alzheimer’s awareness Campaign this year. 
 
Without Literacy all subject areas will suffer, noted the Principal of the Enis Adams Primary School, Mrs. Carleen Parsons. Her presentation then focused on the upcoming Enis Adams Reading Theatre, now in its second year to be presented on Sunday October 11th.  She said, once Rotary got on board, other organizations and companies were more motivated to participate.  Also the Reading Theatre is a key example of the Ministry of Education Theme “Instructing Every Child through Inclusive Education” and the students and parents love the activity.  This year, the school has gone bi-lingual, promoting literacy in Spanish, and one of the stories at the Reading Theatre is to be enacted in Spanish. 
 
Enis Adams Primary should be one of the SMART Schools within the Territory by July 2016 challenged DDMs Ms. Evangeline Inniss-Springer.  She went on to say that literacy is multi-faceted, and partnerships are at the core of tackling literacy. Other challenges issued were to include a segment on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Reading Theatre and to launch a Rotary poster competition for children to express their understanding of Disaster Risk Reduction. S.M.A.R.T. which stands for “Sustained Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience Techniques” is at the core of DDMs initiative to create Safe, Healthy, and Green Communities and Community and Business Emergency Response Teams. 
 
The Conference concluded with a presentation of books to the Public Library which was accepted by the Acting Deputy Chief Librarian Wendy Kelsick. This was done in partnership with Owl Books in Canada, and RCRT’s initiative “Word for Word” which donates books on behalf of Guest Speakers at their weekly club meetings