The Day I Learnt to Read the Word “Refineries.”

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=”] [av_heading heading=’The Day I Learnt to Read the Word “Refineries.”‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’13’ padding=’10’ color=’custom-color-heading’ custom_font=’#014663′ av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”] By Virginia Ngindiru, Program Manager, Zizi Afrique Foundation
[/av_heading] [/av_one_full][av_image src=’https://palnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMAGE12-1-1-1030×686.jpg’ attachment=’20617′ attachment_size=’large’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”] Even before I was fully aware of the beauty of words, I knew they were what would fully satiate me. From a tender age, I understood that if I were to transform myself, the secret lay in the books, thanks to my father, who during my early years, spent time assisting me to decode the alphabets. He inspired me to learn how to read.

In readiness for my holiday visits to my aunt, I remember spending time to master how to read a specific word. It would be my surprise gift to my aunt. The word was ‘refineries’. It appeared in carton boxes, which were a famous sight in our village shop. Fast forward to this chilly night, as we sat together in the smoky kitchen preparing dinner, the tin lamp surrendering its will to the soft whistle of the wind that sneaked through the open kitchen door. How proud I felt as I read out the word to my aunt. Though semi-literate, her reassuring smile left only one impression on me, that I had conquered the world. I could read tricky words and therefore had something to show for my daily walks to school. I felt powerful.

This may not be a general feeling for all when we learn how to read, but it is a memory that has remained with me for years. It is what I would wish for every child – pure joy. It is nearly equivalent to the joy a parent has when a baby takes the first steps or says their first words. To me, celebrating International Literacy Day is a call to all us, reminding us of our obligation towards ALL children. We owe them at the very least, the ability to read. Literacy empowers and liberates. It opens up opportunities, compels us to dream, and connects us to a wealth of incredible experiences. In the words of Frederick Douglass, once you learn to read, you will be forever free. It is such freedom that every human soul, young or old, rich or poor, deserves for it is the gateway to a more equitable world.

Even as COVID grounds formal learning, our commitment to nurture literate communities remains, at least in the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP), a program of Zizi Afrique Foundation. This is a catch-up program designed to hasten acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy skills for learners lagging and is implemented in three counties in Kenya, targeting learners in grades three to five. For such children, who despite being enrolled in school for at least three years, lack the basic reading and numeracy skills, extended school closures are likely to cause more harm. Evidence from around the globe estimates that loss of learning is inevitable, with learners lagging in their foundational skills listed as a category likely to be most affected by the prolonged closure.

Besides learning, their socio-economic prospects are likely to suffer further. The ALP, through community-based teacher assistants, rolled out a blended learning approach combining radio, print resources, and household support to ensure continued learning. What began as a household-based learning initiative has evolved to organized learning in small groups in designated community spaces, championed by the parents. In one community, parents have engaged the services of a community teacher for 6 days a week, to facilitate learning for 1 hour daily.  Our effort has spurred community action compelling them to self-organize and champion learning, affirming that achieving literacy for all is a collective responsibility.

As we explore how pedagogies are shifting during this year’s International Literacy Day celebrations, we wish to emphasize that our efforts to build back better should acknowledge the central role communities play. They hold an important place in promoting literacy and resilient education systems. Systems that outlive the formal structures, which as COVID has shown, can be adversely impaired in the face of crisis.

 

[/av_textblock] [av_social_share title=’Share this entry’ style=” buttons=” share_facebook=” share_twitter=” share_pinterest=” share_gplus=” share_reddit=” share_linkedin=” share_tumblr=” share_vk=” share_mail=”]