We provide Zambian curriculum text books, however we are aware that reading levels are low.

Zambia has not been spared from the problem of poor reading amongst the primary school children. It can be challenging to encourage reading among children not already immersed in a strong culture of literacy. 

We are determined that the children in our schools are going to benefit from the best education we can possibly help provide. The world opens up to girls and boys who can read! Literate mothers have fewer, healthier children who will become literate themselves. A literate farmer is more successful than an illiterate one.

Schools in Zambia were closed 3 times due to corona virus, with no IT technology and no access to books children fell even further behind.

The Happy Readers program is specifically designed to teach English as a second language, it is bright attractive and culturally appropriate covering issues of agriculture, gender equality, climate change and positive African values of kindness and hard work. The scheme includes books, bright posters, teachers handbook and teacher training. 

In 2021 we provided books for 4 schools, Lushomo, Kachindu, Malimba and Mwiinga-Malimvwa. In 2022 we added another 5 school Sichiyanda, Kampunu, Mungolo, Ntambo and Lumba-Moonya. The deputy headteacher told Deana that reading standards are low at remote Namateba school, so they will be issued with reading books a the end of 2022. 

The project is being closely monitored by the reading standards office at the District Education Board and 2 teachers from our partners Zambia Women and Girls Foundation. 

The monitoring report shows that the Happy Readers reading program has led to an increase in the number of children’s reading skills:-

1. Positive traits habits of the desire to read are evident among the learners unlike before the introduction of Happy Readers. Now children read frequently, sometimes even without a teacher present

2. 90 percent of the children are able to read with ease, unlike before where children were struggling to read one sentence

3. Happy Readers Reading programme has already proved to be effective as it has enabled learners to improve their reading skills.

We really want to raise funds to buy more books to enable children to read. The scheme costs £1,050 for books for a school, plus money for training and monitoring.

For more information see Happy Readers web site www.happy-readers.com