Three dynamic women advocate learning through reading

MANILA, Philippines – Silence enveloped the room as US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney sat on the floor with elementary students and read them a book titled

Here are My Hands

. The children huddled around Kenney as they listened to the story.

The storytelling session was part of an afternoon program held at National Book Store (NBS) SM Mall of Asia to formalize the agreement between USAid and NBS Foundation to support efforts to promote learning through reading via the Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLs2) program.

NBS Foundation will match each dictionary-and-Thesaurus set USAid donates to each elementary classroom, for a total collaboration worth P37 million over a period of two years. The project will benefit over 280,000 schoolchildren and initially targets elementary schools in Mindanao where the needs are greater.

Kenney took part in the contract signing together with NBS founder Socorro “Nanay” Ramos as witnessed by Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador. Together, they painted a formidable picture — three women who all share a love for reading and have the power to influence change.

The partnership is something that Kenney wholeheartedly supports.

The daughter of a now-retired public school English teacher, Kenney herself is a lover of reading and firmly believes that books can change children’s lives for the better.

“We all know how many bright minds there are in this country, and we all know that many of them just need a few tools. Our partnership will help put those tools in the hands of teachers, parents, children, and school administrators,” she says.

 Labrador reminded everyone that the partnership is only the beginning. “This is a seed that we are planting for all of you to flourish,” she said. “This is not only a commitment to promote a love for reading, but also a love for people. These dictionaries and thesaureses will make a big difference in the lives of children who would like to learn more.”

Nanay agrees: “Knowledge and the privilege of an education are possibly the most important gifts we can give our children. And what better way is there to promote education than through the love of reading?”

Beyond providing tangible learning tools, however, she emphasizes that the partnership is, ultimately, a commitment to better the lives of future generations. “If we can change even one child’s life and make his future brighter by giving him the education he deserves, then the dream we share today will have been completely fulfilled,” Nanay adds.

Encouraging young people to develop a love for learning through reading is something that will certainly bear fruit in the years to come, which will hopefully pave the way to a better and brighter Philippines.

As Dr. Seuss said in I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!, “The more you read, the more things you will learn. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”