Literacy boost improves reading skills and eases trauma of war at Kule refugee camp

Literacy boost is meant to improve the reading skills of children who have very weak reading performance at school. Nevertheless, for South Sudanese Refugee Children at Kule Refugee Camp, literacy boost has brought about double benefits than any other places in Ethiopia.

One of the benefits is that it is improving the reading skills of students. Gatefet Gateluak, 15, is in grade 3. Before joining a world Vision built literacy boost education center, his reading skill was very poor. He says, “As a grade 3 student, I can differentiate between letters, but reading a word was a huge struggle for me. There was time where I had to fill some multiple choice questions of final examinations by guess because I could not read and understand the meanings of words appropriately. As a result of this, my academic performance was very poor.”

Deng Gach, 50, is one of the parents at Kule Refugee Camp. He sends three of his children to literacy boost center. He says, “Before the start of literacy boost, my children were obsessed with the trauma of the war in South Sudan. They were not playing like children. They were entirely distrusted. It was awfully a challenge for me to take them out of that situation.”

In response to the above critical problems, World Vision Ethiopia funded by world Vision Canada, has begun implementing literacy boost project in Kule Refugee Camp in 2015. Opening 16 literacy boost project, it is now benefiting more than 5,000 children.

Gatefet is one of the beneficiaries of the literacy boost project. He says,”Before literacy project began, reading a word for me was a struggle. But now, six months after joining this reading center, my reading skill has greatly improved. I am able to read 100 words per minute. I am not facing any challenge to read and understand exam questions like before. My school performance has greatly improved. I am very happy to see my reading skill radical improvement in six month time.”

In fact every refugee children parents are very happy by the progress of their children reading skill performance. Nyabel Ketech, the other parent at Kule Refugee Camp, sends three of his children to the reading center. He is greatly amazed by his children reading improvement. He says, “Believe me or not, I was hesitant to send my children to literacy boost center at the beginning. But to my surprise, my children reading skill improved greatly months after joining the center. I am now very happy with World Vision literacy boost works. I will not hesitate to send my children to school now.”

Literacy boost project has also significantly eased children’s trauma of war. Witnessing this Mr. Deng says, “I used to ease my children’s trauma of war creating various kinds of stories and plays, but my effort did not work well. My children were in state of distress most of the time. After world Vision has started literacy boost, my children are passing the time after school at literacy centers. There they can play with their peers, listen to stories, draw pictures and sing songs. They do not have any spare time to think of the trauma of the war and worry. I can see now their smile like any happy children. Indeed, I could say that the literacy center has taken away the old and bad memories of my children.”

Nyammir Puol says, before this center was in place, i had to stay at home depressed. but now I have learnt reading there.

Nyammir Puol, 7, is one of the girls attending at World Vision literacy boost center. She says, “Before this center was in place, I had no place to play. I had to stay at home depressed. But now beyond improving my reading skill, I found the center a good place to play and enjoy with my friends. I am longing to pass the rest of my after school time at the literacy boost center.”