Initiative for reading habit among children

The British Council Pakistan together with a multinational bank has launched a new fun reading initiative, Kids Read.

It is aimed at primary school kids to encourage reading for pleasure inside and outside classroom. The programme has been launched recently in a ceremony at Government Model Girls High School, Model Town Lahore.

St John Girls and Boys School Youhanabad also participated in the launch. Kids Read has been developed by the British Council kids an opportunity to read by making the same enjoyable and accessible. The programme involves a variety of school activities alongside public activity through community events. The formal launch of activities on Thursday included storytelling by Wendy Arnold, a renowned writer and advocate of children’s fiction and poetry followed by a series of Storytelling Training Workshops for teachers. Children engaged enthusiastically in the activities. She said the programme meant to create a ‘reading culture’ in schools and families in Pakistan.

Secretary to Punjab government for Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Department Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik said that Kids Read was an innovative and good initiative.

Head of British Council English Programmes Murad Khan said, “Reading is fun as it gives pleasure to children and opens up their mind to a world of creativity, culture, imagination and understanding.” He said British Council developed several websites for English language learning for students, teachers and professionals.