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About Our Foundation
Grow Your Reader Foundation was founded on the 14th of May, 2016, and is registered in the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms as a non-profit organization.
When we started, we encountered three main problems. The lack of reading skills, the lack of access to storybooks and the lack of practice in nurturing reading habits.
In order to tackle these problems, we have come up with solutions in the form of our projects. We designed a curriculum called “Reading Secrets”, to develop and enhance the skill of reading. We have started working on providing free access to books by installing numerous library stations in different corners of Bangladesh, including our online library. We have published story books to educate children on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Sustainable Living and Child Food & Nutrition. This not only helps in academic proficiency but also creates a positive impact on a child’s physical and mental well-being. We provide teacher training facilities so that quality education is sustained in every classroom. We provide volunteer opportunities so that the youth of our country can take charge and bring the necessary change.
The Ongoing Projects Of “Grow Your Reader Foundation” Include:
1. Access to Reading Materials –
Book Garage: GYRF launched the “Book Garage’ a street library initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic in June 2021. The premise behind this project is simple yet powerful: individuals can leave their old books in designated locations so that those who lack the means can discover and enjoy new books for free. We have already installed 33 street libraries across four different regions, housing a total of 5,000 books across Bangladesh. These libraries have been a tremendous success, with approximately 4,500 children and numerous adults benefitting from this initiative. Our street libraries not only encourage reading but also foster empathy and respect for one another by creating a reader-friendly environment. We strongly believe that the establishment of Book Garages in the road side, park and school can serve as an alternative source of entertainment, ultimately reducing excessive screen time and internet consumption. With the prevalence of digital devices and online content, it has become increasingly important to address its potential impact on mental health.
WoW-Wheels of Wisdom (জ্ঞানের গাড়ি): Mobile library and internet hotspot help to keep the light of learning alive for underprivileged children in Bangladesh. This project is one of the three winners of the Electric Information For Libraries (EIFL) 15th Library Innovation Award supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Global Libraries Programme for the public libraries contributing to education recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic across the world.
Library Stations: Grow Your Reader Foundation started its journey with a concrete vision to ensure the right creative learning environment that will build their innate Reader to become a leader. We strongly believe that stories have a profound impact on our brains. It influences change and has the power to change our values, behavior and norms. As a result, Grow Your Reader Foundation’s first station at Gawair Nabin Government Primary School began with only 216 books in both English and Bangla in 2016.
E-Library: We have an online library from where everybody can access our own published books for free. We believe in the power of stories to transform lives, and that’s why we are proud to offer a diverse collection of storybooks in both English and Bengali. Our library is dedicated to three essential pillars: Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Child Food and Nutrition, and Sustainable Living. These topics are crucial for personal development, the well-being of our children, and the sustainability of our planet.
2. Enhancing Reading Skill –
Reading Secrets: The curriculum provides clear and easily applicable instructions that are self-driven. Once explained to teachers, parents, and students, they can independently utilize the curriculum. The instructions are thoughtfully organized in a sequential manner, fostering the development of a child’s cognitive abilities at any age. This curriculum establishes an effective internal system within the child, automatically enhancing reading fluency.
স্কুলের বাইরে শেখা: On 9th February 2022, we started an after-school program “স্কুলের বাইরে শেখা” at Beltala, Jessore, where students from the public universities are teaching in the most updated approach TaRL (Teaching at the Right Level). TaRL enables children to acquire foundational reading through “Reading Secrets” and arithmetic skills, regardless of their age or grade level.
3. For Nurturing Reading Habits –
পড়ি শুনি দেখি, ইচ্ছেমতো শিখি: Differentiation involves adapting lessons and objectives to meet the specific requirements of individual learners. Recognizing that each student has a distinct preferred learning style, effective differentiation encompasses presenting the material in various formats such as visual, auditory, and text-based. By tailoring support to individual needs, teachers can significantly enhance student learning. GYRF places significant emphasis on this approach to ensure children’s educational success. Our focus extends to publishing stories for children that cover themes like Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Child Food & Nutrition, and Climate Education for Sustainable Living. Each story is accompanied by a book available in audio and video formats, providing children with options to learn in a way that suits them best through our online library, audio book app, and YouTube channel.
GYRF Reading Circle: To spread the love of reading amongst our community, through our own experience, reviews, and recommendations of amazing literary works for fostering empathy in our circle.
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