Kids Read is a reading programme, sponsored exclusively by HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd & Affiliates, aimed at government school primary students to encourage them to read for pleasure, inside and outside the classroom. Kids Read will run initially for one academic year in 13 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Qatar and United Arab Emirates, and it will include reading, teacher training, competitions, community events and much more.
Kids Read has been developed under the British Council MENA English for the future strand of our project work. English for the future provides learners and teachers with access to high quality resources and materials from UK.
Reading is a transferable skill that opens up a world of opportunities for children. Good reading habits established early, improve later performance in a range of life skills as well as developing language and critical thinking skills. However, across the region teachers and parents find it difficult to motivate their children to read and the problem increases when dealing with a foreign language like English.
- 25,000 students across 13 countries
- 6 government primary schools (3 boys and 3 girls) per country nominated by Ministry of Education
- 78 schools; 25,000 students; 300 teachers directly; 1000s of teachers indirectly
- 250 HSBC volunteers
- To encourage reading for pleasure both in the classroom and at home
- To develop the English language skills of the future generation
- To provide schools with access to contemporary authentic fiction books
- To support MoEs, teacher trainers and teachers with their literacy and reading initiatives
- To highlight selected themes: the environment, value of money, arts & culture and volunteerism
- Storytelling and reading initiatives within the school communities
- Training programes for teachers and HSBC staff
- Workshops for parents and carers
- Competitions
- Community Events for the wider community
- Regional school magazine
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