To the Women Who Inspire Us: A Mother’s Day Celebration

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, all of us at LitWorld are thinking about the women in our lives who have inspired us.

This includes celebrating all of the moms, caretakers, and female role models who have strengthened us and shaped us into the people we are today. Their love and support is what keeps us going, and in the days of COVID-19, is more important than ever.

LitWorld Superhero Charlotte (center) with mom & sister in Rwanda

To show our appreciation, the LitWorld team is excited to share these truly amazing stories featuring some of the moms and women leaders from around the world! We are so proud to have them as part of our LitWorld family, and hope they help inspire you for this upcoming Mother’s Day.

Jessica
Art of a Child, Uganda

All of our LitMoms at Art of a Child in Uganda are working together to find new ways of supporting their families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. One amazing example is Jessica, who has begun making her own protective masks and selling them at a low cost to others in the community. By undertaking this initiative, she is able to support her family throughout the crisis, support public health, and act as an inspiration to other women, mothers, and daughters!

Ada Raquel Bonilla Rodrigues
Luceros del Amanecer, Nicaragua

In addition to raising her own son, Mateo, mother and mentor Ada Raquel also works tirelessly as a LitClub mentor at the Laguna Negra LitClub program for pregnant teens. She speaks with and empowers these girls, showing them just how bright their futures can be. Even as she’s expecting her second child, Ada Raquel visits local schools and runs her own weekly radio show, teaching young girls about safe sex and early pregnancy prevention.

Phares Kafula
Go Ye Therefore, Zambia

Using the entrepreneurial skills she learned at Moms LitClub, Phares and the other LitMoms in Zambia have started a community garden outside a local school. They sell what they grow back to the community, earning both financial security for their families and valuable self-confidence for themselves. “We have learnt how to achieve our goals,” says Phares. “They say that an opportunity knocks once. This is that opportunity. We are so grateful and thankful. We are changed persons.”

Madiha Istiak
Seeds of Hope, Pakistan

Madiha attends the Mom’s Sewing LitClub at Seeds of Hope in Pakistan. Her formal education ended at primary school, but she loves sewing and is always eager to contribute during club activities, readily offering help to the other LitMoms.

LitClub has boosted Madiha’s confidence greatly, and she now realizes the importance of education - especially for girls. “I’m happy because I’m useful” she says. “LitClub helped me realize my worth and be productive in society.”

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Seeds of Hope Foundation, Pakistan 

For their 2019 Mother’s Day celebration, moms from the Seeds of Hope Foundation in Pakistan visited the Najina sewing center where they practiced sewing skills, along with various activities focused around self-empowerment and basic literacy activities from the Mom’s Club. The year before, they celebrated Mother’s Day with their children, many of whom are also enrolled in Seeds of Hope, who honored their moms with beautiful letters of appreciation that they wrote and illustrated themselves.

If you want to join us in celebrating these incredible women in our lives, why not make a donation in someone’s honor as your Mother’s Day gift? You’ll be making a difference for women everywhere by helping us provide moms with life-changing access to literacy and entrepreneurship training, making them become leaders of both their families and communities. You will also receive a special virtual postcard that can be printed or shared online, making it the perfect present for anyone you donate in honor of - near or far!

From all of us at LitWorld, we wish women, leaders, and moms everywhere a happy Mother’s Day!

 

LitWorld Cooks: Egg Recipes from Around the World!

“Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you what you are.”
- Brillat-Savarin

Nargisi Kofta

Food is more than just fuel; it is an important part of our identities. Whether passed down through generations or found through a Google search, the recipes that we make and share tell powerful stories
about our countries, our histories, and ourselves.

Preparing for a banana blossom omelette

A dutch baby pancake

Tortas from Colombia

During this time of year, many of us are celebrating birth and rebirth through holidays or by simply appreciating the new growth of trees and flowers along with longer daylight hours. The ingredient that best symbolizes the power of nature, and that unites us across cuisines? The humble egg! 

Heralded as a symbol of rebirth and vitality, the egg is known for being nutritious, versatile, and oh-so-tasty. It can be boiled or baked, served hot or cold, enjoyed for breakfast or dinner (or even dessert). It can be eaten on its own, or added to stabilize cakes and other baked goods. It is a key ingredient used in thousands of different dishes, from Pakistan's nargisi kofta (a spiced meatball stuffed with egg) to the Filipino favorite of a banana blossom omelette.

Thanks to our wonderful LitWorld partners around the world and our friend Jayne Cohen, cookbook author, we have put together a whole book of global egg recipes just for you!

Every member of our LitWorld community has their own unique (and delicious) egg recipe, and each of these recipes tells a story. Whether it’s a group of friends preparing a nutritious energy drink together or a mother recreating her own favorite childhood breakfast for her daughter, these dishes help unite us all through one of life’s simplest pleasures: the universal joy of food.

LitKids in Colombia mixing a PonyMalta energy drink

We hope that by sharing these recipes and stories with you, we can connect you more closely to our LitWorld community. So please, crack an egg, test out some of these tasty recipes, and perhaps they’ll become a part of your own special kitchen tradition!

Read the LitWorld cookbook for free now!

Click here for delicious egg recipes from around the world!

P.S. Did you take a crack at one of these recipes? Show off your chef skills with the world by sharing a picture of your creation on social media and tagging LitWorld!

Introducing Virtual LitClubs! A Letter from our Executive Director

Dear Friends,

We are all in this together. I know that I am not alone as I practice breathing exercises to slow my racing mind; as I moderate my intake of the news, which seems to be the same scary story over and over. At the same time, I am so grateful for what I have: access to clean water, food, a secure home filled with books, reliable internet, and the LitWorld community, which remains so powerful in the wake of this pandemic.

I am also relieved to know that, thanks to their LitWorld experiences, LitKids everywhere have the tools they need to stay safe and supported during this global crisis. They can read, understand, and share life-saving information about medical precautions. They can express their feelings and value the perspectives of others. And they can be confident in having a strong network of peers and mentors to rely on.

LitWorld was built to be flexible and address kids' needs in any place, at any time. That is why we are excited to share the launch of our “Virtual LitClub” that is open to all, including our ongoing global partners. We are also working on an "at-home" version of our summer LitCamps, ensuring that no LitKids will be left without these life-changing opportunities for learning and inspiration.

As a global community, we must address both our immediate needs and those of tomorrow. Amplifying the voices of our children is more important than ever. That is why we need your help.

Here are three ways YOU can take action now!

1. Join our

Global Heart Map Project!

Click to learn more and share your story with the world.

2. Start a

Virtual LitClub!

Tune in to our weekly Facebook Live Videos every Wednesday, and sign up now to receive an email every Monday with activities, projects, and more.

3. Donate today!

We have unfortunately had to cancel our 2020 gala, severely impacting our revenue, but our work never pauses.

Many of our LitKids do not have the same resources we do. Clean water is not a given. There is no spare room for isolation if a family member is sick. But they have something powerful: information, literacy tools, and this incredible community. Let’s do what we can to ensure that our LitKids' voices and stories continue to be heard!

With appreciation,
Dorothy Lee
Executive Director

Virtual Read-Alouds, Drawing Sessions, and More to Enjoy at Home!

“Reading gives us someplace to go
when we have to stay where we are.”

- Mason Cooley

Reading aloud and sharing stories is more than just a fun way to pass the time. It’s an invaluable way of building bonds and connecting with others that humans have relied on throughout history, and during these challenging times, that sense of togetherness is more important than ever.

As we learn to adapt to these many new challenges, people everywhere are working hard to ensure that we can all take part in the joy of reading aloud. Check below for a list of online read-alouds and more from educators, actors, celebrities, and artists from all around the world!

For more ways to stay engaged, sign up for our upcoming weekly virtual LitClubs, check out our list of at-home resources, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as we continue releasing new content!

A Letter & Call to Action from our Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Yesterday morning, I sat down at the kitchen table with my daughter to make maps of the feelings in our hearts. (It was the time of day when she is usually starting school, and I am usually on the subway on my way to work.) 

The first two feelings she shared were “sad” and “happy,” which sums things up pretty well. We are all experiencing so many conflicting emotions right now, and they can shift in an instant. It felt good to write down the feelings of that moment. It feels good to share them with you all now.

Today, I invite you to join in and come together as the kind, resilient, generous LitWorld community we know and love. I invite you to share your hearts with the world! Visit here to learn how you can make your own Heart Map and add to our story.

In these days when we need to stay physically distanced to be safe, it is more critical than ever to build social connections with others so that we can stay emotionally strong. The act of sharing stories keeps us whole, and reminds us that we are part of a global community. LitWorld is doing all we can to keep this work going strong. Let’s be there for one another, today and every day!

Please feel free to be in touch at any time, and thank you, always, for being an important part of the LitWorld family!

With hope,
Dorothy Lee
Executive Director, LitWorld

🧡 From all your friends at LitWorld, we hope you stay safe and stay strong. 🧡

"Why Stories Matter": Announcing a Research Brief from LitWorld!

“Can literacy, especially storytelling, change lives and the world?”

This is the question posed by Why Stories Matter, a newly-released research brief co-published by LitWorld and the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Literacy Education. The answer? A resounding “Absolutely!”

Co-published by LitWorld Executive Director Dorothy Lee, LitWorld Board Member Ernest Morrell, and Jodene Morrell, this research brief discusses the power of storytelling and how LitWorld has strengthened millions of kids, educators, families, and communities through storytelling.

“By helping kids become powerful storytellers, we also help them to develop positive reader and writer identities, thrive in school, contribute to their communities, and build lives of dignity, hope, and joy.”

Click here to read the brief

Highlighting the ways in which LitWorld’s approach simultaneously embodies evidence-based education best practices and leverages innovative community-driven tools, the brief also touches upon the heart of LitWorld’s mission: sharing the stories of children themselves.

From 9-year-old Rosie who was given the chance to attend LitCamp instead of summer school and emerged as a motivated and engaged learner, reader, writer, and creator, to Adrian from Valle del Cauca, Colombia, who has transformed into a confident and enthusiastic learner thanks to the safe space provided by LitClubs, countless lives have been touched and transformed through the power of stories.

Read the brief now to learn more about the methodology behind our work and for the stories that bring it all to life!

World Read Aloud Day 2020 - Celebrations Around the World

World Read Aloud Day 2020 has come and gone, once again showcasing the power of literacy, community and, you guessed it, reading aloud! With February 5th behind us, the LitWorld team can reflect on this amazing advocacy day that reaches millions of people around the world each year, in over 170 countries! This time, we are focusing on this year’s celebrations from some of our amazing, on-the-ground partners, who always bring immense amounts of enthusiasm, innovation and community organization to this day!

Community read aloud in Uganda.

LitWorld’s long-time partner in Uganda, Art of a Child, celebrated during the week of February 5th with read-alouds, crown making and bringing the joy of the celebration to a variety of communities, reaching over 400 kids and adults! Having been founded in 2010, Art of a Child continues to spearhead literacy through art activities for boys and girls from some of the most vulnerable communities around Kampala. The organization consists of a deeply dedicated team of mentors, who travel to community centers, schools, and neighborhoods, often in a “matata” van, bringing books and art to kids that would not have a way of accessing it otherwise.

Grab a friend, grab a crown and READ!

Meanwhile, one of the newer LitWorld’s partnerships in Morocco, LEAD Morocco Academy, were also busy celebrating their first WRAD. The main event was organized at the local library, “a place that many people from the community have not visited before”, shared Partnership Coordinator Zahra Benfares. The academy staff and volunteers held read-alouds and fun activities for the children and adults during the entire day, while the library staff were busy educating everyone about the ease of accessing the books. Many people were surprised to learn that they can rent out books for free and pledged to keep coming back with their children.

Mentor reading aloud to a group of seniors in Roldanillo.

One organization that always goes above and beyond for World Read Aloud Day is LitWorld’s partner in Roldanillo, Colombia - Museo Rayo. What started out as a one-day celebration back in 2014, has grown to a “Read Aloud Month”, involving the entire community of Roldanillo. It all starts on February 5th, with a siren sounding off in the main square at 10 am, letting everyone know that “Read Aloud Month” has begun. One can see at least 5000 people reading aloud at the same time in different places throughout the city - in schools, in businesses, on playgrounds and public places. The children and mentors from the museum are charged with a special task - carrying suitcases full of books they go out into places in the community that don’t typically enjoy a read aloud - like a local retirement home. According to a local newspaper that featured Museo Rayo in an article about the celebrations, one thing is clear - Roldanillo is now known as “The Town That Reads”!

From Zambia to the Philippines to the United States - we are humbled by the sheer force of joy and powerful advocacy that comes from this day. LitWorld is always thankful to everyone who participates and helps us reach millions of children and people this year, reminding everyone how simple, yet powerful the Read Aloud can be. For more photos from the big day all around the world, scroll down below!