Read Across Jamaica Day 2014 was the best to date. Why? Because the Rotary Club of Kingston was front and centre reading up a storm. May 6th 2014 was Reading Across Jamaica Day and Crayons Count and the Rotary Club of Kingston were blessed with smiles and laughter from the bright faces of the students from the Sunrise Early Childhood Centre. There were calls for ‘More! More!’ as we read fun books from Sesame Street. Elmo taught everyone how to feel glad, how to feel sad and what to do when we are mad. Grover taught the little ones some important safety tips while Big Bird made new friends. We don’t know who had more fun; the readers or the children.
The Rotarians on hand had the best time answering questions and sharing their own experiences with the children. Book after book flew off the shelf once the chance was available. Reading stimulates the mind, exercises the brain, improves concentration, develops a child’s vocabulary and opens their imagination so we were extremely honoured to be a part of this growth. We even received hugs and little gifts at the end of the reading session as the day came to a close. Crayons Count also donated learning kits to the thankful teachers and principal who opened their doors to us. If you don’t believe us, just look below.
Check out our Facebook album to see even more photos of the reading fun.
Read Across Jamaica Day 2014- The Sun Rises
Do Good Jamaica/ Crayons Count premiered the “Jamaican Mannaz” song feat. Giomar Mitchell, Jana Bent and Selah Channell. To say the children liked it would be an understatement. They loved it! As Jamaicans would say it, “a bare teeth we see”. All we heard was “Please and tanks!” “Please and tanks!” and ‘MANNAZ!’ ‘MANNAZ!’ ‘MANNAZ!’ and dance moves that even we were tempted to join in ourselves.We even have an amazing little video of the dancing/mannaz fun.
Sunrise Early Childhood Centre- Jamaican Mannaz Dance
Read Across Jamaica Day 2014 was really reading ‘across Jamaica’ as the Rotary Club of Kingston in partnership with Do Good Jamaica/Crayons Count visited five fantastic basic schools for one on one reading sessions during the month of March in honour of Literacy Month. The club is extremely supportive of the early childhood cause and places great emphasis on reading and literacy. In fact, it was the work done by the Rotary Club of Kingston that inspired Deika Morrison, founder of Do Good Jamaica/Crayons Count to lead the Rotary Clubs of Jamaica to break the Guinness World Record for the most books donated to charity in a seven-day period. The record of 657,061 books, which were collected during the Rotary Club of Jamaica ‘Race to Literacy’ book drive – held in May 2010 – was confirmed by officials at the New York office of the Guinness Book of World Records.
Following that background, it was only right that the Rotary Club of Kingston be the readers for each session. Five different basic schools, five inspiring reading sessions, three readers per session and countless smiles and words through-out it all. Rotarians read to students from NCB Early Childhood Development Centre, Citizen Advice/ RJR Basic, New Haven SDA Basic, Jamaica House Basic School and Wee Angels Basic. A picture is worth a thousand words and the photos from each reading session speak volumes. Check it out.
Rotary Club of Kingston & Crayons Count Celebrate Literacy Month
Reading Session 2! The Rotary Club of Kingston & Crayons Count
Reading Session 3! The Rotary Club of Kingston & Crayons Count
Reading Session 4! The Rotary Club of Kingston & Crayons Count
Reading Session 5! The Rotary Club of Kingston & Crayons Count
We look forward to bigger and greater partnerships with the Rotary Club of Kingston and many others. This is all for the kids. ‘Please and tanks’ for your support.