The 14th of February is popularly known as Valentine’s Day. Thus, for Keeping It Real (KIR) Foundation, giving books is an act of love. We use it to express our love to underserved children in our public primary schools and teach them the value of love. This year’s International Book Giving Day was celebrated in 8 public primary schools in Port Harcourt where we have set up Reading Corners.
In Plateau State, we partnered with NIFES and held a Special Reading Session with the children in St. Luke's Primary School Bokkos. Nankin, Bwehndok and over 85 Children in the community were gifted with storybooks and writing materials. We also had a Special Reading Session in Port-Harcourt. We read, sang, and danced with over 700 children in the following schools; Baptist Day Primary School, Community Primary School Amadi-Ama, Community Primary School Abuloma, UPE Ozuiboko, State Primary School Elekahia, and Community Primary Schools Azuabie 1 and 2.
The following are some major highlights of the day;
In Baptist Day Primary School, Emmanuella and her schoolmates sang; ‘It is Love that makes the world go round’ with our Volunteers; Pious Slyva a Blind Music Artist, Kelvin Nengi Diri, a Professional Photographer and Bitebo Gogo, our Executive Director(ED). The volunteers read to the children the life story of Mother Teresa and the children promised to be kind to one another after hearing this quote by Mother Teresa; “I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”
It was an emotional session for Chetachi; a Primary 6 Pupil in State Primary School Elekahia after our Volunteer Blind Music Artist; Prince played the popular children’s song; ‘I Love You, You Love Me..’ Chetachi said that Prince reminded her of her late grandma, who loved her so much and used to sing to her and siblings, but had an accident and became blind. The session ended with bear hugs and book gifts. Destiny, a 10-year-old Primary 6 pupil of Community Primary School Azuabie 1, received her first personal storybook after reading and answering questions. Her excitement was contagious as she thanked KIR Foundation and our Donors for the gift of a book.
Our goal is not only to instill a lifelong love for reading in these children by providing them access to books but also to inspire them to become positive change agents, just like Emmanuella has promised to do when she becomes an adult. We gave over 95 books and writing materials to more than 500 children.
We are grateful to our Donors, Implementing Partners, and Volunteers who make it possible for children in underserved communities who are eager to read but do not have access to books, to get personal storybooks and read with adults who believe in them. Your act of generosity is inspiring change through reading. This year, we aim to set up 40 Reading Corners and donate a minimum of 5,000 books. Kindly support us to help girls like Emmanuella can become a philanthropic adults!
