The Power of Reading Together

Written by
Ruby-Ann Van Egmond
Published on
January 16, 2025 at 3:29:00 PM PST January 16, 2025 at 3:29:00 PM PSTth, January 16, 2025 at 3:29:00 PM PST

In a community that once struggled with high illiteracy rates, women now come togeather to read and learn with eachother and their children!


This year, January 24 marks the annual International Day of Education—a day dedicated to recognizing and celebrating education as a cornerstone of peace and development. Before working with FH Uganda, many community members in Bukiende, including Barbra, believed that education was solely the responsibility of teachers.


Barbra and her husband Ronald, who have two children—Anthony and Merab—in primary and pre-school, shared their community’s traditional view of gender roles. Women were expected to handle all domestic tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for the children, while men were seen as the sole providers of income. This perspective extended to young girls like Barbra’s daughter, Merab, who were expected to stay in the home. As a result, girls’ education was deprioritized by their families, contributing to high levels of illiteracy in Bukiende.


This created a devastating cycle in the community where young girls were taught domestic chores instead of subjects like math and science, only to pass down the same limitations to their daughters.



Barbra never had the opportunity to go to school, so she always felt disconnected from her children's education. Even if she wanted to, she didn’t know how to help Anthony and Merab with their learning. Instead, she focused on taking care of her home; after all, that's how she was raised. To her, education was confined to schools—all she could do was send them to class everyday. This mindset left her feeling uncertain about their futures, as she had no idea how her children were progressing in school or what they needed to work on. 


That changed when FH introduced a support group for adults. Together, parents learned about the transformative power of reading with their children and supporting the education of both their sons and their daughters.


“I used not to read with my children and only sent them to school, but now we read together and look at the pictures,” says Barbra.


FH Uganda, in collaboration with key parents, started a campaign and re-wrote and distributed 600 copies of story books in the local language. They even used familiar local animals as main characters so children like Merab could better connect to the stories. The campaign “lets learn to read” had a powerful message that encouraged both parents to actively participate in their children’s education. This fostered a culture of shared learning and connection within families.


Parents attended bi-weekly sessions on how to support their children's education. During these sessions, Barbra learned that reading with her children strengthens their bond and prepares them for school success. “With the early childhood development training from FH, I now create time at home every day to read with my children. This has significantly improved on my relationship with my children,” explains Barbra.


Since partnering with FH, Barbra has seen the community undergo a positive transformation. Parents and caregivers have become involved in their children's learning. This has given them a ray of hope that their children will excel in school and go on to further transform the community. Parents are now active in their children's learning, which helps empower them to become future self-reliant citizens!


 “With books in our hands, children will go to school when ready and will be well prepared to perform better.” - Barbara  


Barbra now looks to the future with optimism, envisioning bright opportunities for both her son and her daughter. She is committed to supporting and helping them succeed and is grateful for the encouragement and empowerment she received from FH. Today, Barbra consistently sets aside time to read with her kids and visit them at school, fostering a stronger connection and actively participating in their educational journey.


Will you help support moms like Barbra so they can give their daughters the education they deserve? 


Send Story Books