Reading club helps Lesline’s love of reading grow

Story and photos by Jean Baptiste Mirindi

Nine-year-old Lesline, who lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has a passion for stories and books, but for a long time she found it difficult to read them for herself. In school, she struggled to write the words dictated by her teacher, and every time she opened a book, the words seemed to dance across the page, getting mixed up with each other. This frustrated her enormously, because she wanted so much to discover the wonderful stories hidden between the pages.

In her first year of school, Lesline’s teacher, Delphin, identified her struggles in reading and writing. Lesline earned a grade of less than 40% in the subject that year. When she continued to earn low marks into her second year, her teacher’s concern deepened, but without the right textbooks, he struggled to help her. “Every time Lesline failed in reading and writing, I tried to insist on her learning, but because of a lack of textbooks, she always had difficulties,” Delphin says.

Lesline is not alone. According to the World Bank, even before the learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 6 in 10 children globally could not read and understand a basic text by age 10. And that rate is even worse in sub-Saharan Africa, with nearly 9 in 10 children unable to read at this basic level by age 10.

Understanding the critical role literacy and education play in opening up more opportunities for children’s futures, World Vision works with communities to help address learning barriers, improve literacy, and support the quality of children’s education. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, World Vision partners with Australian Aid to organize reading and math clubs, including in the Kalehe district, where Lesline lives. The aim of these clubs is to encourage a love for reading, writing, and math, as well as to help kids in mastering these subjects so they can succeed in the classroom. The project supports 1,200 children — including 600 girls — through 30 reading and math clubs.

Knowing Lesline’s struggles with reading, and hoping to harness her love for stories, her teacher enrolled her in the reading club.

\"\" — Lesline reads aloud at a World Vision reading club.
Lesline reads aloud at a World Vision reading club.

\"\" — Lesline reads aloud at a World Vision reading club.
Lesline reads aloud at a World Vision reading club.

A supportive community

Arriving at the reading club, Lesline immediately felt at ease, surrounded by colorful books and other children who shared her passion for stories.

As part of the program, Lesline and other participants each received an interactive and engaging reading manual designed to help make reading more fun, especially for children who’ve struggled to learn to read. The books are theirs to take home, so the children can learn at their own pace.

Each week at reading club, students come together to discuss the stories in the books. They also practice reading aloud under the guidance of the club’s mentors. These weekly exercises have helped increase not only Lesline’s literacy skills but also her confidence reading in front of her classmates.

But that’s not all the reading club has offered Lesline. She feels accepted and supported by the club’s mentors as well as the other children, who have become close friends, sharing books but also fun and games, along with moments of laughter.

Lesline’s classroom reading scores keep improving.

Steady improvement

Since Lesline joined the reading club, her teacher has noticed a significant improvement in her reading and writing.

“Lesline’s passion for reading has greatly contributed to her school results this year,” says Delphin, noting that her grades have improved since last year.

Lesline says, “I can now fluently read French and Swahili! I go with my book at home, I see pictures and I practice reading. My teacher can count on me in the classroom while reading and calculating.”

Now an avid reader, Lesline devours each new book with enthusiasm thanks to her hard work and the support she’s received in her World Vision reading club.

Lesline reads aloud in French in her classroom.

Story published on June 10, 2024

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