Josephine, a thoughtful 14 year old student at Joy Grace Community School, remembers what life was like for her before she learned how to read just a few years ago. She attended another school in Ng’ombe where she was never taught how to read, but was often punished for not knowing how. She says her teachers were so mean to her, and twice she was held back a grade. That experience was so traumatic that she lost the desire to learn anything.
When her mother found out about Josephine’s struggles and the school’s poor treatment of her, she transferred her to Joy Grace Community School. When she started 5th grade here, Josephine wouldn’t talk to her classmates for fear that they would laugh at her for not knowing how to read.
Josephine’s story is quite common in Ng’ombe. The majority of children move through elementary school without ever learning how to read. Somehow, they manage to memorize information and pass tests without having this skill. Other times, they are just pushed up through the grades despite failing because the teachers don’t know what else to do.
But thankfully, Joy Grace Community School has a different perspective. Instead of punishing non-readers or ignoring them, they’ve created a remedial reading program for older students who need help. Outside of school hours, Josephine attended extra lessons to learn how to read. After just a few weeks, it all started to make sense.
“I couldn’t believe I was reading and that it was so easy.”
Her mom was so proud of her and impressed with the school that she started telling all of the parents in Ng’ombe to bring their kids to Joy Grace. Enrollment figures continue to go up at this school because of their reputation for teaching reading.
After Josephine learned how to read, she began to make friends at school. Now she can read some of our highest level books, and she’s become one of our Junior Teachers in the Buddy Reading Program. It’s her favorite activity of the day because she can help others avoid some of the pain she experienced before she could read.
Thank you for supporting our work so that students like Josephine can have a different future.