A group of Dubai-based volunteers have taken to heart the government's declaration of 2016 as the Year of Reading and they are looking for more volunteers to help young kids to "learn not just words but also new worlds."

"The idea of volunteering is to turn reading into a fun and positive learning experience," Mimi Yoo, founder of Gift of Education, the UAE chapter of global NGO Room to Read, told Khaleej Times.

"Volunteers help children gain experience and confidence in their reading ability while they also get a sense of achievement by helping their community."

"There is no money involved in this English reading programme but only the skills, time, energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers," adds Yoo, whose initiative is inspired by the declaration of 2016 as the Year of Reading by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Khaleej Times caught up with the volunteers in one of their weekly reading sessions with KG and Grade 1 students at Little Flower English School in Dubai on Sunday.

"Volunteering for this reading project is a fantastic experience," says one of the volunteers. "We're helping children open up their minds and they learn not just words but also new worlds."

"To be just be with them and see them light up their eyes when you read them good stories has given me a great satisfaction. I think we inspire them to be more playful and imaginative, which can only be a good thing," adds the volunteer.

For his part, the principal of Little Flower English School, Abdullah Kutty, explains: "Reading is an important skill which has to be developed in children at a young age. This skill is going to enhance their other skills like listening, speaking and writing."

"Reading widens their horizon of knowledge and everyone has a role to play in promoting reading among the children. Parents could be role models and they should create a reading culture at home. If the habit of reading is inculcated at the younger age it is going to last lifelong."

"It is a great move from the authorities to declare this year as the Year of Reading, at a time it is feared that we are losing our children to the digital world at the cost of reading," adds the school principal.

How to become a volunteer?

Gift of Education has been working closely with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce engaging corporate volunteers from du, DP World, Summertown, Chalhoub Group, Laing O'Rourke, Mashreq Bank, RAK Bank, GE, and more companies. Volunteers take turns conducting weekly reading sessions in two schools in Dubai and one in Sharjah.

More corporate and individual volunteers are needed as the organisation plans to expand its reach to more schools especially those whose students come from low-income families.

Volunteers will help KG & Grade 1 students to read and write English as their second language. Volunteers as young as 10 years old are welcome and a proper curriculum that is easy to follow will be provided in addition to veteran volunteers who will guide them every step of the way.

Visit www.giftofeducation.me if interested and, again, no monetary contribution is required. "All you need to bring is your smile!"

angel@khaleejtimes.com