KUCHING: Pustaka Neger i Sa rawa k in col l aborat ion with the Sarawak State Health Depa r tment and Sa rawa k General Hospital will hand over 70 Reading Seeds Kits to mothers at the Maternity Ward of Sarawak General Hospital at 11.30am on 23 October.
The handing-over ceremony will be officiated at by Minister of Welfare, Community Welfare, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah.
The Director of State Health Department, Director of Sarawak General Hospital and Pustaka Chief Executive Officer are also expected to attend the ceremony.
Reading plays an important part of lifelong learning, and this necessary skill should be developed as soon as a child is born. Reading Seeds is a literacy programme for children together with their parents, in which the passion for literacy is being developed during their critical time in the development of their lifelong literacy.
The more children read, the more things they will know and the more confidence they will gain. When children developed the passion for reading from young, as they grow, they become more motivated to continue reading, moulding them as independent learners in their lifelong learning process.
The findings from an article published in “Child Language Teaching and Therapy, December 11, 2013” highlight the potential of reading and talking to infants, are not just for language and literacy development but also for other aspects of cognitive development.
The Reading Seeds programme is a continuation of the Born To Read Program initiated and organised by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak since 2004 aimed at promoting early literacy in a child’s growth and development.
The aim of Reading Seeds is to ensure, every baby born in government hospitals/Klinik Kesihatan Ibu dan Anak shall be given a Reading Seeds kit upon discharge. The Reading Seeds Kit contains specially designed baby books with reading manual for the parents and information/ directories on nearby libraries where parents can get support or assistance and register as members, when necessary.
The books for the kits were written by volunteers of this programme; Madam Angeline Lim Sueh Hong, an illustrator, Mr. Chai Yang Fung, a graphic designer and Madam Suminah Samsolmoharip, a teacher at Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah Kuching. Pustaka will conduct workshops for parents on how to conduct reading sessions with their babies, and also for the nurses at the maternity wards/clinics on the implementation of the programme.
The progress and effectiveness of this programme will be evaluated throughout the year. This project will continue over time, to ensure Sarawak’s communities are lifelong learners and essential tool in order to survive the digital age.
Interested individuals who require more information, may contact Izaruddin Moss / Ainie Umairah Lee at 082-442000 connection 319/241 or email izaruddin@ sarawak.gov.my/ leemc2@ sarawak.gov.my Go to Geek Prank and try the online Windows XP simulator, play with the classic Minesweeper and Tetris games or listen to some music.
