Bangladesh stars support Room to Read
To celebrate International Mother Language Day, Room to Read a privileged charity partner of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Reliance India, organised a Pora Khela Utsob (Reading Festival) and invited Bangladesh's famous cricketers, Zunaid Siddiqui, Mahmudullah and Shariar Nafees to support the event.
The Utsob, organized at Kishalay Girls School & College, Tajmahal Road, Mohammadpur, Dhaka was attended by around 500 students. The children enjoyed the company of their famous stars Zunaed Siddique, Mahmudullah and Shahriar Nafees who took part in the "Read & Run Game" along with the three winning teams for the grand finale. The cricketers also visited the stalls and watched the students participate in the Bangla language-based activities.
To encourage the children to read, star cricketer Shahriar Nafees said "I want each of you to focus and read better. Reading requires practice like cricket and to excel one need to practice whether one is playing or reading."
In keeping with the belief that 'World Change Starts with Educated Children' this International Mother Language Day, Room to Read is reaffirming their commitment to work towards ensuring every child has access to school and more importantly that every child can read and write in his/her mother tongue as a first step towards being literate.
The Country Director of Room to Read Bangladesh Mr. Zaki Hasan said, "Reading should not be introduced as an obligation or punishment. Children need to be motivated to read through joyous activities like our 'Reading Festival'. This time with our cricketers joining us, I am sure these children will be encouraged to read as well as play."
Each year, at the Reading Festival, Room to Read organizes reading-based games along with other reading, writing and drawing related activities. Activities were organized to promote the importance of literacy with the slogan ? "Read Bangla, Write Bangla ? Accurately and fluently!" It gave our children an opportunity to meet our famous cricketers and show them their reading skills.
Room to Read aims to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children. It also supports girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.
The organisation has already benefited 4.1 million young people in nine countries, including 10,000 girls on educational scholarships, and it has distributed in excess of 8 million English and local language books, and established 10,000 libraries and over 1,100 schools. By 2015, Room to Read aims to have helped 10 million children.
Room to Read is working in two districts of Bangladesh since 2009. So far Room to Read has supported 269 government/registered primary and 6 secondary schools in Bangladesh to promote skill and habit of reading. Room to Read is also supporting 532 girls of Sirajganj district to complete secondary education. Besides, Room to Read has been publishing Bangla titles for children.