Stories Make Us Strong

We are excited to announce a new partnership and blog series with our friends at Story Share! We first met Story Share through our Story21 family LitClub program. We loved that they shared our focus on the joy and hope that spreads through literacy. Story Share inspires reading practice and improves literacy skills through a collaborative digital literacy hub that brings together writers, readers, and educators. The Story Share platform provides relevant and readable stories to inspire a love of reading in students who struggle. Literacy is about so much more than words on a page. It is a lifelong tool that you can use any way you want: to learn about things, to find your way, to find yourself, to change the world. 

We are so excited to team up with together for a 7 Strengths blog series that is all about using the power of stories to become resilient and ready to use your own story to dream big and find new ways to connect with your community, and the world. The LitWorld 7 Strengths - Belonging, Curiosity, Friendship, Kindness, Confidence, Courage, and Hope - come from the LitClub curriculum that we use with children and families to celebrate and amplify the inner strength they already have. These core ideas are essential for feeling fully ready for success in school, for healthy friendships and for facing all of the challenges, bumps and blips that come our way as we go through life. 

Here are the 7 Strengths in all of their glory:

Belonging: Identifying as a needed, loved, and respected member of one’s family, community, and world as a whole

Curiosity: Fostering a willingness to explore new territory and test new theories

Friendship: Having close, trusting relationships with others

Kindness: Being tender towards others in the world who are in need, both near and far

Confidence: Thinking independently and expressing ideas with assurance

Courage: The strength to do something that you know is right, even though it may be difficult

Hope: Thinking optimistically and believing that today’s efforts will produce good things in the future for yourself and for the world

In the coming weeks, we will dig into the awesome Story Share library for recommended reading that will explore each of the 7 Strengths. Whether you’re heading back to school and need a confidence boost and the comfort of knowing that feeling nervous is normal, or are interested in the power of curiosity, and how approaching life with wonder could lead to exciting opportunities, we’ve got you covered.

Join LitWorld's Virtual Stand Up for Girls Story Summit

October 11th is our signature Stand Up for Girls day of action in honor of the International Day of the Girl. We mobilize to remind the world that the stories of women and girls are a force for positive change in our world. Our network of LitWorld and Global G.L.O.W. girls and mentors will hold community Story Summits, bringing together girls from the community to share stories of strength from their own lives.

LitWorld is rallying all of our supporters (that means you!) to come together in a virtual Story Summit leading up to October 11th. Here's how you can participate:

Take a minute to think about all of your strengths (you have many). Now, thinking about your strengths, reflect on the women and girls in your lives who have inspired, nurtured and supported your strengths. Was it your mother? A cousin? A mentor? Or was it someone you have never met but who has provided encouragement simply by living out her story?

Now share the source of your strength on social media, so that others may be moved and changed by her story too. Add her name to the end of our prompt "I am strong like..." with the tags #HerStory and #DayoftheGirl and a photo if you'd like. Together we will create a worldwide celebration of strong women leading up to the Day of the Girl.

Sample Posts

Twitter

I am strong like my mother. #HerStory inspires me every day. Stand Up for Girls with @litworldsays on the #DayoftheGirl

Facebook

I am strong like Maya Angelou. Her poetry is a constant source of courage, motivation and comfort. I will Stand Up for Girls with @LitWorld on October 11th because the stories of girls will change our world.

Instagram

I am strong like Malala. She reminds me that the most powerful tool I could ever own is my own voice. "One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world." Stand Up for Girls with @LitWorld on October 11th. #DayoftheGirl #HerStory #standup4girls 

Director of the LitWorld & Global G.L.O.W. HerStory Initiative Named to ILA's 30 Under 30 List

Today the International Literacy Association debuted the first ever 30 Under 30 list to celebrate a new generation of young professionals innovating new connect communities around the world with the power of literacy. 

We are thrilled to share that Jennifer Estrada, Director of the LitWorld and Global G.L.O.W. HerStory Initiative is a member of this inaugural group. The 30 Under 30 featured story in Literacy Today magazine shares how the HerStory Initiative is connecting over 5,000 girls in 19 countries with literacy programs centered on storytelling, creative expression and powerful mentor relationships under Jennifer's leadership. Read the full story and be inspired and filled with hope for a future where every person, everywhere has the chance to tell her story.

"The moments when our global community faces its greatest challenges are the moments when we can most benefit from the power of young people's stories. By hearing these stories, by valuing them, we recognize the importance of girls' lives and they become a force for change in the world." -- Jennifer Estrada

Announcing The Grandma Alley Fund in Honor of Alice Youngman

LitWorld celebrates and honors the life of Alice Youngman, a dear friend to LitWorld and an extraordinary champion of our work empowering children around the world through the power of literacy and story. To honor her legacy as a lifelong supporter of children’s hopes and dreams, and as a vibrant storyteller, and to ensure that her story continues to impact girls around the world, LitWorld has launched Grandma Alley Fund to support the HerStory Initiative.

We work in close and trusting partnerships with locally based, grassroots organizations to build sustainable outcomes for young people around the world. The HerStory Initiative improves and inspires the lives of girls through a focus on storytelling, literacy, and mentorship.

Through the HerStory Initiative, LitWorld and our partner Global G.L.O.W. have created a powerful model for change that supports girls’ academic and emotional well-being while boosting resilience and literacy skills. Our HerStory programs bring girls and women leaders together for literacy empowerment workshops and full day community retreats, and create strong networks across the globe through online story-sharing and mentorship.

We proudly accept gifts in Alice’s memory to nurture and grow the HerStory Initiative through the Grandma Alley Fund. Together we will make sure many more girls can open their worlds and expand their futures with the power of literacy. If you would like to make a contribution, visit litworld.org/donate. We are grateful for your gift of any size.

August News: A Video from Nepal LitKids and Moments of Serious Joy

Standing Strong in Nepal

Though stories from Nepal have faded from the news in the months following the earthquake, LitWorld is strengthening and expanding our support in the country. We are in the process of launching five new LitClubs this year and opening a community library with our partners Global G.L.O.W. and The Rukmini Foundation. We will also increase our scope beyond Kathmandu with a new partner, Save the Environment of Nepal. The heart of our work is that children's own stories and life experiences fuel literacy, and that writing down and giving a voice to these stories builds strength and resilience. LitWorld Photographer & Liaison Monet Eliastam visited our Nepal LitClub girls after the earthquake and listened to their stories. Watch this short video to hear the girls' stories in their own words, and witness the power of LitClub in action. If you would like to support the expansion of LitWorld programs, we would be deeply grateful for your gift of any size.

Stories from the Field: LitWorld in Colombia

Our International Program Director, Ana Stern, spent the beginning of the month in Cali and Roldanillo, Colombia with our partners Bibliotec, Museo Rayo and Biblioghetto. She visited each community where LitClubs run and heard about the impact of our programs. During a visit to one of the schools that LitClub members attend, a teacher said that the change in students' openness to sharing, attitudes towards reading, and social awareness since joining LitClub has been an incredible positive change in her classroom. Ana presented LitWorld innovations at the International Conference on Reading, Information and Culture alongside Mabel Bejarano, our Colombia-based Advisory Council member who has been integral in growing our work in this region, and our local program leaders. Attendees told Ana and Mabel that LitWorld stood out because of the positive, strength-based model that we use. We are ready to greatly scale up our programs in this country, with a corps of newly trained LitClub mentors leading the way.

A Moment of Serious Joy

Everyone should be celebrated for being exactly who they are. Giving shooting stars is a signature LitWorld affirmation that LitClub members and mentors give each other for showing strength - the courage to tell a story, to show kindness to others, to follow every curiosity, to be a good friend. This LitCamper's reaction says it all: being honored for being you feels good. Our unique way of cultivating children's reading and writing identities and simultaneously tending to social and emotional well-being sets LitWorld apart. Our Founder Pam Allyn recently shared tips for parents and teachers based on LitWorld's best practices with Scholastic and the International Literacy Association. 

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Special LitWorld Reminders

It's never to early to start planning for World Read Aloud Day, especially with the dawn of back to school season. February 24th is the big day: start spreading the word! To lend even more support to LitWorld during back to school season, consider shopping for books and supplies on AmazonSmile to donate a portion of your purchase to our programs.  

Make the LitLoop Work for You This Summer

Our summer wish for every child is a season of fearless discovery and joyful learning. Ninety-nine percent of parents agree that their child should be reading over the summer, but finding creative ways to engage kids in summer learning can feel daunting. (Almost as daunting as answering that age-old question “what’s for dinner?”) LitWorld is here to help! Today we’re talking all about the “LitLoop” and sharing some tips for integrating meaningful learning into your summer routine. The LitLoop (literacy loop) is a term we created to highlight literacy as a continuous cycle of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Reading and listening are like breathing in; writing and speaking are like breathing out. We breathe in new ideas and stories, and breathe out our own thoughts and opinions in response. Here are some tips to make the LitLoop work for you this summer.

Start with your child’s strengths.

Plan activities that affirm your child’s strengths. Matching skills that your child feels comfortable using with those that may not come as naturally is a great way to build confidence to explore all components of the LitLoop. If your child is an avid reader but expresses anxiety about speaking, embrace this by planning a speaking activity that draws on their expertise as a reader. A book club with family or friends where the discussion component centers on a book your child loved will put her at ease knowing that the topic at hand is something she cares about. Maybe your child loves to talk, but has trouble with listening. Have him write out questions and interview a family member so that he gets to take turns speaking and listening, all while learning about someone he cares about.

Never underestimate the power of the read aloud.

Read alouds are like a perfectly balanced literary meal and pack a powerful academic punch. The read aloud builds strong reading, writing, listening and speaking muscles, and creates a reading community for your family at the same time. Before, during, and after reading, ask your child open-ended questions based on the cover, illustrations, and events that happen in the story. Some examples that will allow your child to connect to the text include:

Based on the cover, what do you think this story might be about?
How do you think the main character is feeling right now? Was there ever a time that you also felt this way?
What do you think is going to happen next?

Writing can easily be incorporated here through a “stop and jot,” where your child can take a minute or two to write down their answers to some of your open ended questions, or stick post-it notes to a page with thoughts you want to revisit after the book is over. Mix things up and switch off reading pages so that your child can practice reading and listening as you share a story with each other.

Take the LitLoop with you. 

Summer learning can happen anywhere, and should flow from your child’s own curiosities and passions. When you leave the house, make it a habit to pack a notebook so that your child can write down everything he notices, smells, sees, and wonders about. Young children who are not writing independently yet can illustrate. Another fun idea is to buy a disposable camera and empower your child to take photos of whatever feels moving or important during the day. Let her find a creative way to display and share the story of her summer - a scrapbook, a blog post, a slideshow, anything goes. Summer excursions are also a great opportunity to read nonfiction together to add layers to an outdoor hike or a museum experience. Wildflower books make walking a scavenger hunt. Books about ancient Egypt bring mummies (back) to life. Let your child become an expert in a field of his choice.

We hope these tips inspire you to go forth and add some serious joy to your summer learning adventures. Keeping children engaged in the LitLoop over the summer will allow them do the most important work of all: tell their own stories!

July News: A Beachy Invitation, the LitCamp Debut, and a Magic Library

A LitWorld Summer Event

Join us for a special evening to honor the work that LitWorld does around the world to give children and families access to joyful literacy programs.

Saturday, August 15th
(Rain Date: August 16th)
6:00 - 8:30pm
Vineyard Haven, MA

Please extend the invitation to friends who will be in the area and share your belief in the power of literacy to change lives. Click here to RSVP or to make a contribution in lieu of attending.

Saying Goodbye to the Summer Slide

LitCamps are in session in New York City, Detroit, Newark, and Santa Ana, filling these out of school months with fearless reading, creative writing and activities that make learning feel like summer camp. In addition to the LitCamps we run with local partners, we are thrilled to announce the soft launch of Scholastic LitCamps, a nationwide initiative created in partnership with Scholastic to stop the summer slide. Our empowering 7 Strengths curriculum paired with the magic of quality Scholastic texts is a winning combination for every child. Stay tuned for the official nationwide rollout and for more information on how you can get your school or community-based organization a LitCamp!

LitWorld Libraries: For the Love of Reading

Back in December 2014, LitWorld celebrated #GivingTuesday by asking you to support our library program. We are overjoyed to tell you that a community library launched in Faisalabad, Pakistan in early March, and is working literacy miracles in the community. Our partner, The Seeds of Hope Foundation, reports that over 200 community members are registered library card holders. The library extends our reach beyond our LitClub participants and serves all ages. Mothers bring children who can not yet read on their own, and read aloud sessions engage and captivate children and families. Many community members had never seen a library in person before, and now they have access to a vibrant learning space five days a week.