Author: Laura-Liliana Crihan
It is certain that reading contributes to the healthy development of an individual. The fact that a child consumes books instead of playing on the phone or computer, the fact that a child consumes books instead of content sold on TV, often imbued with violence and false models, says a lot about the formation of his character, but also about its enormous potential.
Books, the more they are read from an early age, the more they contribute to a harmonious development of vocabulary, of a well-organized thinking, based on comparisons, on argumentative structures. Strictly referring to the Romanian society, we are still used to teaching argumentative essays that will be later memorized by students, without encouraging critical thinking, autonomy, our own opinions.
Therefore, it is gratifying to see how non-governmental associations strive to organize all kinds of non-formal activities that have the role of contributing to the development of an educated community with quality people. We, the Casa Naturii Association, organized a reading club for children from rural Transylvania, more specifically for students from Laslea, Mălâncrav, Floresti, Nou Săsesc and Roandola in Sibiu County.
The project just ended this fall, but for these children it was all about stories: children read fables, stories, extracted main ideas from texts, developed their creativity and vocabulary. Given the current situation marked by the pandemic, students read during this period outside, in the fairytale landscapes of Transylvanian villages. What a beautiful image: a small community, in the silence of the village, eager to learn and enjoy the beauty of the words in the books.
During this project, the rules for keeping distance were observed, there were 5 participants in a session, and the children used masks and disinfectant. Despite all these impediments, children have shown a desire for knowledge, development, which is a big step for education and sustainable development of the community. The “Book Club” project was realized through a Start NGO grant funded by Kaufland Romania and implemented by the Act for Tomorrow Association
Some impressions about the Book Club project in rural Transylvania:
It is beautiful when, at the end of a project, we see beautiful results. I asked a volunteer, several children and a parent about the impact for this book club, about their impressions and I had the following answers. We were impressed.
A parent sent us something very emotional and sincere:
“Whenever we are here, we need to help.”
Another parent told us this:
“The club helped my daughter read a lot, she is very happy when she goes to read and I want to thank you for the help given to the children.”
The trainer who managed the reading club told us:
“The children stop on the street to ask me when we have the next meeting, they come and knock on my window on the weekends to work extra.”
The children also shared their impressions of the reading club:
“I really like everything we do, I don’t want the meetings to end.”
“It helped me read better, I also collected garbage in the village, I painted, we played, I want to go and play even more.”
The benefits of a book club:
- Our country ranks last in Europe in terms of education. By creating book clubs, the community can develop over time, which means access to courses, jobs and a lower long-term unemployment rate.
- Acquiring the notions of general culture. Through the discussions in the reading club, students meet different words, notions, information necessary for their general culture. Thus, the reading club contributes to the elimination of the phenomenon of functional illiteracy.
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- Increasing students’ motivation. In children’s books, there are a lot of heroes who can be real role models for children. Thus, children can dream and can be motivated to become, in turn, firefighters, doctors, aviators, etc.
- It is a comfortable environment. The fact that students are in a secure environment, where there is not even the pressure of grades and where every opinion is valued, will make students more and more motivated to participate in these book clubs.
- Developing a creative, critical thinking community. Through reading, children assimilate knowledge, ask questions, have openness to various age-specific topics, which should arouse their curiosity. In the long run, this means open-minded people, proposing solutions to existing problems, well-informed people who know how to make their own decisions.
- Developing team spirit. In the reading club, students get to know their colleagues better, learn to interact, to treat their classmates with respect, to work in a team on certain tasks.
- In rural areas, children do not have access to bookstores or libraries with a wide range of books. Many times, they don’t know what to read. However, by creating a book club and involving volunteers, students get to know quality books for their age. Also, with access to e-books, they could also have access to a wider range of books.
In short, our society, including rural communities, will be richer with open, informed people, inclined to think critically, able to work in a team and very creative. We will all have something to gain.
How can you get involved concretely for this project to continue?
We don’t want these book clubs to stop here. The children also want to continue. So, we would be happy for you to get involved so that this project can continue.
“It helped me a lot with his vocabulary, I also liked the Club, I want to do more.”
You can get involved as a volunteer. We are waiting you to apply as a volunteer in the Casa Naturii Association, to be part of the team of people who pass on culture and love for literature. You will participate in organizing the reading club, finding the best reading materials and creative methods to get students involved.
You can sponsor our projects. We would be delighted to be supported by companies that believe in our cause, in education and in the beautiful future we can build, starting with the education of children. Your contribution will be valued and you will participate in building a valuable community.
- You can donate a certain amount or goods, and we thank you for the special results in the short and long term. You will have access to the status updates of the project and we will be transparent with the stages of the project and how to implement it. Your contribution can be a big step for a child’s future and for the future of our society.
You can share this article to reach as many people as possible. Education is paramount, and this type of project for children’s development deserves support.
You can redirect 3.5% of the income tax through the form submitted annually to ANAF (we take care of the procedures, you just tell us that you are interested).
Let's talk!
If you have decided to get involved in one of these ways, let us know. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram or by e-mail: asociatia.casa.naturii@gmail.com.
Start NGO is a program launched by Kaufland Romania and implemented by the Act for Tomorrow Association. The targeted areas are: education, health, environment, social and culture. The total value of the program is 500,000 euros. The Start NGO program is the simplest Community funding instrument for young NGOs, non-administrative institutions and informal / initiative groups.
Clubul de lectură a fost finanțat prin:
Laura - Liliana Crihan
I am a calm, empathetic person, I like to read, write, travel and have experiences that will help me develop personally. I always like to learn something new, to enjoy nature, and the little things like a jasmine tea, blooming trees or Christmas lights. I am interested in topics such as education, the environment, the community we belong to and ways to develop it.
