What can be better than encouraging young people to read and, at the same time, contribute to a worthy cause?

The University of Hawaii, Manoa, American Samoa Territorial Teacher Training Apprentice Program (better known as UH COHORT) is partnering up with the Manu’a Elementary Schools to host a Read-a-thon set to start today.

Students from Fitiuta, Faleasao, and Olosega Elementary Schools – with the help of their parents, friends, family members, and the business community - will band together to collect sponsorship dollars through reading.

Monies raised during the month-long activity will be split evenly between two causes.

Half of the funds will be used to buy books for the LBJ Hospital’s Pediatric Ward while the remaining half will be kept at the school to purchase reading books for that school’s library.

Samoa News spoke to a representative from the UH Cohort program who explained that the books for the LBJ’s Pedicatric Ward will be used by children who are admitted to the hospital, as well as parents who want to keep the little ones occupied while they wait for the doctor.

Samoa News understands that students in the current UH Cohort program will be visiting the LBJ Pediatric Ward to ‘read aloud’ to the children there.

According to a statement from the UH Cohort program, their passion is to improve literacy in Manu’a. “We are excited to work with the Manu’a schools to help support their own libraries, and to show children the importance of reading and helping other children like books.”

Parents are advised to ‘read aloud’ to their children and provide the little ones with reading material that will help peak their interest in reading.

“Together, and with the enthusiasm and support of teachers, we can help children discover and develop a love of reading,” said a media release from the UH Cohort program. “We are so grateful to our student readers. With this new initiative, our partnership can give more books to more families to read – everyone benefits!”

The partnership, according to the program coordinators, “is a win-win-win proposition: encouraging local children to read while simultaneously instilling charitable values and raising money for books for the hospital, families, and children of Manu’a.”

The Read-a-thon will begin today and end on April 28, just^, in time for the current COHORT students (who are very much involved in this project) to wrap up their studies and graduate with their degrees in the summer.

Those wanting to contribute to the Read-a-thon may do so with cash or in-kind donations.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Parents who have heard about the program are excited and looking forward to it.

All who spoke to Samoa News are in agreement, that programs promoting literacy are a MUST for the territory’s kids, who generally score lower on standardized tests compared to children in the US.

Read-a-thons, according to the program coordinators, help students read more and therefore, learn to enjoy it more.

Young children will build their vocabulary and reading skills and in the end, schools will earn extra funds through a healthy and educationally connected way.

The goals of the program are:

To motivate children to read for fun, enjoy reading more, overcome reading obstacles, and find more time to read;

To encourage children to help other children, and to empower them to feel that there is something they can do to help children staying in a hospital; and

To encourage parents to read to their children, and to encourage children to read to each other.

HOW IT WORKS

Every time a student reads, the number of books is recorded in a Read-a-thon log. Parents are being asked to help seek out sponsors who will agree to donate for every book that is read.

For example, if a student reads five books and receives a pledge of 5-cents per book, they will raise 25-cents total. Sponsors can be anyone, including a parent, grandparents, aunts, uncles, business owners, friends, and neighbors. Readers can even sponsor themselves.

More information about the Read-a-thon can be obtained by calling Mene Tauaa at 731-6331/699-9790 or email <mene@hawaii.edu>