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Regatu said she never dreamed she would be able to read and understand a story on her own. That is, until World Vision implemented a Literacy Boost program near her home in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia.
Regatu (pictured in the middle) began regularly attending a weekend reading club with two of her sisters and her brother. The club reinforces and supplements the lessons they learn at school.
Regatu was able to identify vowels and consonants shortly after joining. Then she learned the alphabet and how to read and write.
“We can borrow books on weekends and are given assignments on reading and writing by asking our parents,” said Regatu. “On top of that, the teachers at the club are very helpful.”
Since joining, Regatu has shown progressive improvement in her reading skills and academic performance. “My class rank was so bad that I was ashamed of it, but this year I stood second in my class in the first semester and I keep moving up,” Regatu said.
She likes math and wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
“I am amazed by the change my children have shown in their education since they began participating in the reading club,” said Haji, Regatu’s father. “Previously, they were not interested in their education at all, but now they always come home with books and read stories for us.”
*name changed to protect identity
