Forgotten kids learn to read

There are few lovelier sounds than the dull din of children reading aloud to themselves. Some read quickly whilst others painfully sound aloud every syllable. I knew we were successful when I called a close to the lesson and was met with a chorus of “but I just want to finish the sentence/paragraph/chapter”. Then I knew that the love of books had been firmly implanted in the hearts of these kids.

Many of the children I work with at the Orphanage cannot read or read poorly. For some it is because they haven’t had access to books in order to improve their reading skills, for books are a rare commodity in an orphanage. For most though, the inability to read is simply because they have a learning disorder and are therefore deemed too ‘stupid’ to learn to read.
 
It was against this background but inspired by the knowledge of the endless possibilities open to the mind of anyone who has the ability read that two years ago we decided to embark on a Reading Programme, but it is only in this past year that the programme has really been refined.

All levels are catered for, including those who are fluent readers but who would otherwise never have the opportunity to read. Our Wednesday afternoon reading classes are a rare treat for these children, when they can escape into the world of Russian fairytales, stories of the Kazakh nomads or the magical world inside the wardrobe of Narnia.

So many children are blessed by this programme. There is Lyosha who can now recognise the first 8 letters of the alphabet. This is an incredible feat for a little chap who just a few months ago could not even say his name. And there is Tania who is 14 and painfully aware that she reads like an 8 year old. Then there is tiny Sergei. He is 10 but looks 5 and he will read anything, including the labels on our clothes. His eyes light up every time he spots a new book to devour.

Praise God that this programme is running so well and we have the full support of the staff.