Little Kingdom

Rampur,UP, India
7/22/2011: Raahi Readers makes its first library donation to Little Kingdom Elementary

Little Kingdom, an elementary school catering for children from preschool to fifth grade, is located in one of the more remote areas of the city. Built for the children of low income families, the school charges its students very low fees. As a result, it is difficult for the school to provide the resources outside of its immediate curiculam, such as age-appropriate fiction and activity books that are an essential part of a well rounded early education. Through various associates, Raahi Readers managed to contact the principal and acquired permission to introduce the program to her students. After spending a few days becoming acquainted with the students and staff, we first started the program by holding a reading circle for each of the grades to introduce the books to the children. The children at first were distant, but as time passed grew more and more interested in the books we read to them. After the reading circle was over, each group of children was given art supplies and asked to draw a picture of a scene from the book they were read. Every student drew remarkable drawings, and all were given a small token to encourage their efforts.

Guwahati, Assam, India

8/9/2011: Raahi Readers makes its second library donation to Ashadeep, A Mental Health Society

Ashadeep is an Indian NGO built to help those with mental disabilities. Amongst its various programs, is a children's daycare center where they receive special education in living & social skills. I had the opportunity and privilege to serve a short stint as a volunteer at Ashadeep in the summer of 2011. Free of fears of others' perception, the open, unreserved and welcoming nature of the children to a new face in their midst was very refreshing and touching. I was able to see how excited the children were to see and experience new topics and ideas. I am happy to say that Raahi Readers was able set a small library of books at Ashadeep and create a reading slot during which the teachers would choose a book from the collection and read it out loud for the students. I participated in the first reading circle that was held on August 9, 2011, held under the supervision of teachers and staff. Through we were uncertain as to how the students would react, they were surprisingly engaged, paying close attention to the story, and clamoring for more when it was over.

If you wish to learn more about Ashadeep A Mental Health Society, and more ways you can help, please visit their website at http://www.ashadeepindia.org