Why Every Child Deserves a Story: My Social Impact Experience.
Dr Seuss said, “the more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.”
He may have meant that books let you travel without moving your feet. But, books really can take you to more places.
Since joining the book club as a facilitator and the social impact program team, I have traveled across many counties in our work to promote literacy in Kenya. We have visited numerous schools, talking with the students about the importance of reading and writing, and donating storybooks plus other reading materials.
For example, I had never been to Samburu county , and visiting a school there in 2019 was great fun. The children told us stories of their pastoral escapades over the school holidays, like how they spent nights out in the open lands. They slept under the stars, surrounded by their hundreds of bulls and cows.
This July, we visited Muhonia Comprehensive School in Naro Moru, Laikipia county. Laikipia is part of the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya (ASALs), and is home to many wildlife reserves and conservancies like Ol-Pejeta and Lewa.
Muhonia Comprehensive School lies in a quiet part of Laikipia that is quite unlike the hustle and bustle of Nairobi. We passed herds of cattle, zebras, and even a few rhinos on our way to the school, imagine that!
The afternoon had a few activities planned, including a speaking session with the students in Junior High School, that is, grade 7, 8 & 9. We talked about the components of a well-written essay. A good piece of writing has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. These elements guide the flow of a story, and make it a smoother and more enjoyable read.
We also talked about why reading and writing skills are important for success in school and life, and thought about how these skills would apply in the real world.
Have you ever considered that a footballer like Christiano Ronaldo or Leonel Messi needs reading and writing skills? That an actor like Sylvester Stallone portrayed Rambo so well because he could read and speak well?
The students at Muhonia Comprehensive School are so enthusiastic about learning. They were excited about the new storybooks, and eager to try new challenges like keeping a journal. They expressed their desires to grow into impactful paths like medicine, law and justice, journaling, storytelling, and plenty more.
In the end, we all agreed that there is no difference between a child in the rural areas and one in the city. Both enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to learn new things, explore their interests and creativity, and challenge themselves to grow. Both dream that they shall one day be meaningful members of their families and communities. Both deserve the right to quality education and literacy.
The visit to Muhonia Comprehensive School was impactful for both the students and the facilitators. I look forward to next year’s engagements at the school, all the travel and books that lie ahead!
Maggie Mungai
Facilitator (11-14yr)