Making Reading Easy

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, May 3, 2017: Over 35 children from Port of Spain and environs were awarded at the closing of the “Read to Lead Project 2017”, held at the YMCA headquarters, Wrightson Road, on Saturday. The programme was a joint initiative between Republic Bank and the Young Men’s Christian Association of Trinidad and Tobago, in recognition of International Children’s Book Day.

The project themed, “I am The World” sought to promote reading among primary school students from the communities of Morvant, Dibe and Laventille. The project commenced in February, 2017, and involved children aged 5 to 12. The sessions were both thematically and theatrically set, with skilled reading instructors.

Delivering remarks on behalf of Republic Bank, Farid Antar, General Manager, Corporate Operations and Process Improvement, encouraged the young minds to read as often and as much as they can.

“Read to your friends. Read to others younger than yourselves. There is a story developing within each of you. It is a story of adventure. It is a story of future success. It is the story of young minds awakening to worlds of possibility through reading. But for your story to be told, you must read a few stories,” Antar stressed.

Paul Phillips, Head Stakeholder & Business Development Specialist at YMCA of Trinidad and Tobago, said the Association is committed to actively raising the quality of life for every individual, families and communities. “We persevere for all individuals, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, creed or any other circumstances to achieve their full potential. Our task is to make it possible to improve national literacy,” Phillips said, adding that it was vitally important that a love for reading is fostered at an early age and that the national community is drawn to the importance of children not just learning to read, but developing a habit of reading.

Some of the activities held during the programme were; Spelling Bee, Creative Writing and Children Read Aloud. These were aimed at helping to raise the bar of reading among the children.

Republic Bank remains committed to youth development through education and understands the need to assist the nation’s children with avenues to allow them to be successful and productive citizens of this country.