To strengthen the We Love Reading program in Colombia, the Farrukh Foundation and Fundación Magic World have partnered to promote the love of reading in educational centers across the country.
The program aims to create an inclusive and engaging environment for children to read and learn through read-aloud sessions, using a diverse selection of books curated by researchers from Columbia University and donated by the Farrukh Foundation. In addition, the Farrukh Foundation and Magic World School have established the Ayesha Farrukh Library, a dedicated space for children to explore literature and develop reading habits in a supportive and enjoyable setting.
This partnership focuses on training local communities in Colombia to organize regular read-aloud sessions and foster a love of reading for pleasure, adapting the WLR model to fit the school environment in Arauca. Teachers oversee the sessions, and older students are given the opportunity to read to younger children under proper guidance.
Future plans include enhancing parent involvement and expanding activities to strengthen broader community engagement. Initial feedback from teachers has highlighted the positive impact of the program, noting that it has increased student engagement and improved their reading skills.
It is worth mentioning that Humzah Farrukh (CEO, Farrukh Foundation) and Nataly Navarro (co-founder, Magic World) met Prof. Rana Dajani during the Western Union Global Fellowship 2024, where she served as their mentor and helped inspire and ideate the adaptation of WLR in Colombia.
This collaboration with global partners reflects a shared commitment to education and literacy, with the ultimate goal of giving every child the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of reading.