Saturday, August 16, 2008

Duffy Books in Homes



On Friday morning I had the opportunity to see one of my favourite charitable organisations in action: Duffy Books in Homes

Friday, August 15th, saw 500 Duffy schools around the country inviting senior high school students to speak to their children about their love of reading, favourite books and where reading will take them once they have finished school.

I was lucky enough to visit Mangakino Area School to sit in on their Duffy Books in Homes School Leader assembly. There Head Boy Ethan Tupaea and Year 10 student Charles Conrad-Neild addressed the junior school about their love of reading, its importance for their futures as well as encouraged their fellow schoolmates to read. They each read an extract from a book of their choice as well.

The Duffy Books in Homes programme began in 1995 and Mangakino Area School was one of the first 80 schools to sign up. The programme aims to inspire a love of books in children so they become adults who inspire a love of reading. It does this by creating and enhancing the desire for children to read through book ownership. Decile 1, 2 and 3 schools are eligible to join the scheme.

But here's the best bit:

Since its launch in 1995, the Duffy Books in Homes programme has grown to encompass 500 schools, close to 100,000 students and 190 sponsors.

In March this year, the scheme gave away its five millionth book.

It has also inspired offshoot programmes in the Pacific Islands, Australia and the United States.


1 comment:

Caffeinated Weka said...

I think the Duffy Books in Homes scheme is absolutely brilliant! I never taught in schools which qualified, but had friends who did. They said the programme made such a difference when setting up their classroom library and that children felt a sense of pride and ownership - some of them had never had a book of their own before. Great to hear you support it, too! :-)