Think Creative - Issue 2

20 | Think Creative | Issue 2 A bus splashed with bright and bold colors and carrying 550 storybooks forges its way through a bumpy, narrow passage to reach its final des- tination: a primary school in remote Pakistan. TheMobile Bus Library is one of four buses navigating through several districts in Islam- abad and Sindh provinces, adding a new chapter of opportunity for students in hard-to-reach primary schools, where readingmaterials are scarce and libraries aren’t available. “Seeing, touching and reading the text in the books opens new avenues of comprehension and understanding, and ultimately improved learning outcomes,” says Shahida Maheen, who oversees the Mobile Bus Library initiative of the Pakistan Reading Project. The Pakistan Reading Project is a national program aimed at improving the reading skills of 1.3 million children in grades 1 and 2, in- cluding more than 280,000 students in Sindh. The project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Led by the International Rescue Committee, along with Creative Associates International, World Learning and the Institute for Rural Management, the Pakistan Reading Project is delivering high-quality pre-service teacher ed- ucation, training and professional development with an explicit focus on teaching reading. The Mobile Bus Library is one of several ac- tivities implemented by the Pakistan Reading Project to promote a culture of reading, partic- ularly in remote areas. Three days a week, the eye-catching bus arrives inside the school’s gates, parks adjacent to the building and raises its side awning to reveal a display of storybooks. Students gather, crossed-legged on ornate rugs, bright-eyed and enthusiastic as the session begins. Learning fa- cilitators, trained by the Pakistan Reading Proj- ect, guide the young students through various reading activities and storytelling sessions. After three to five days of storytelling sessions with the students at the school, the learning facilitator packs up the books, closes the bus awning and leaves 550 books with the school administrators to encourage the young readers to continue learning. Ministry of Education officials, in collabora- tion with teachers and the Pakistan Reading Project, have selected the storybooks to fit the cultural context and reading skill level. These officials are optimistic about the library’s posi- tive contribution to schools and communities. “I am excited to have the Mobile Bus Library in my schools,” says Tabassum Pathan, an Education Officer in Sindh province. “I believe it will play an effective role in promoting a culture of reading.” The bus has also sparked an interest in literacy among the parents of students, offering reading and writing activities for illiterate mothers in particular. As they learn, they are better able to support their budding readers at home. Bridging the gender gap In a patriarchal society like Pakistan, girls face high dropout rates and socio-cultural barriers to education: early marriage, limited mobility, security concerns and social pressures that keep them out of school. Mobile bus library wheels its way to rural Pakistani schools By Natalie Lovenburg On the MOVE The Pakistan Reading Project is committed to improving educational opportunities for all children. Accessing quality reading materials plays an important role in students’ ability to learn to their fullest potential. Photos by NomanManzoor