Press Releases
US Embassy joins Room to Read to celebrate International Literacy Day
September 10, 2008 – Colombo: The U.S. Embassy joined Room to Read Sri Lanka at the Mundalama Sinhala Vidyalaya in Puttalum district to celebrate International Literacy Day on September 8th. This year’s celebration marked the culmination of a two-week literacy skills program for one hundred children from underprivileged areas around Puttalum - a collaborative effort with the Zonal Education Office and the People Help Foundation, Room to Read’s implementing partner for the Puttalum area.
The day’s events included story telling sessions at the Reading Room model library for primary students and a popular exhibition of posters and student artworks. Students participating in the literacy program sang songs, read aloud, wrote letters and engaged in clay modeling and drawing activities. A Tamil and Sinhala medium cultural show highlighted the children’s talent and enthusiasm for learning.
“Literacy is powerful. Where there is literacy, there is increased economic opportunity; where there is literacy; public health improves; and where there is literacy, the dreams of our children can become reality,” said Jeffrey Anderson, Director of Press and Cultural Affairs of the US Embassy. Glenfrey De Mel, Country Director of Room to Read Sri Lanka, reiterated the importance of education and highlighted UNESCO’s International Literacy Day theme, “Literacy is the key to health and well being.”
Room to Read Sri Lanka is an American INGO dedicated to providing under-privileged children with the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and take control of their own lives through education. Room to Read currently runs three programmes for creating libraries and training reading teachers in Sri Lanka, titled Reading Room, School Room, and Room to Grow. The organization also has a Local Language Publishing program through which they commission and publish multi-lingual children’s books from promising young authors. Room to Read Sri Lanka has been celebrating International Literacy Day through similar training programs since 2006.