PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Since 13th October, 9 story readers and tree coachers who were trained via the ‘STORY-READING FOR CHILDREN’ program of Beyond Kultura Events Foundation (BKE) are enjoying their readings to children in schools and community centers.
Loekie Morales, president of BKE is very happy with the enthusiasm of the story readers, but more over she appreciates the great reactions the readers and BKE are getting from management and the children in schools, afternoon programs and community centers.
‘This story reading program hits the nail. From the pictures and video’s, we are getting in our group chat, there is every day a lot of fun with the reading sessions. I am super happy and grateful with us reaching our goal to facilitate these children with an educational and mind-fun program.
This story reading program is about getting our youngsters to like reading and have FUN doing it, while improving their listening skills, as well as a better understanding of the content,’
Morales elaborates. Project leader Ingrid Holaman is keeping all the involved parties focused towards Beyond
Kultura’s aim. With the Story READING training during a 10 hour’s weekend workshop, the Story Readers are equipped in passing over to the children, the pleasure that reading provides.
The last visits to schools, afternoon activity programs and community centers will be conducted in the coming week. The program will be closed off on the 8 th of December with a certificate ceremony for the story readers, who have passed the theory part and the practical part of the program with sufficient grades.
Rita Aikman, the treasurer of BKE: ‘We are happy with the financial support of donors like the Prince Bernhard Cultural Fund Caribbean, Samenwerkende Fondsen Cariben (Cooperating Foundations for the Dutch Caribbean) and the Nederlandse Taal Unie, a Dutch Literacy Funding Agency. Because of them, Beyond Kultura is able to provide good story readers and give Sint Maarten’s children fun in reading, getting them to ove books, a passion for literature and build up their vocabulary, imagination and expression skills’.
