We Love Reading: Creating a Love for Books in Refugee Communities

The Problem  

Millions of children worldwide, especially refugees, face barriers to learning how to read. For Syrian refugee children in Jordan, challenges such as large class sizes, under-resourced schools, and the trauma of displacement stop the development of strong reading skills. Many lack access to books or opportunities to enjoy reading, which can limit cognitive and emotional growth. Additionally, refugee women often face social and economic marginalization, with few chances to engage meaningfully in their communities.

The Solution: We Love Reading  

We Love Reading (WLR), founded by Rana Dajani in 2006, is a community-led program that promotes reading for pleasure among children. Volunteers, primarily women, are trained as "ambassadors" to read aloud to small groups of 6–10 children on a weekly basis in safe spaces, such as homes or community centers. The program uses culturally relevant paper books, avoiding digital devices to focus on the tangible aspects of reading. WLR operates in 65 countries, with 4,000 volunteers in Jordan alone, reaching about 500,000 children, including many Syrian refugees.

WLR Volunteer Reading to Refugee Children

The Impact  

WLR has made a significant impact. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 322 Syrian refugee mother–child dyads (a dyad is a 2-person unit) in Jordan showed that mothers reported improved child attitudes toward reading after participating in WLR. However, the children’s self-reported attitudes and literacy skills did not show significant improvement. 

The program also increased life satisfaction among female volunteers, providing them with a sense of purpose and agency. For example, volunteers described feeling a sense of “proof of existence” through this type of community involvement. WLR’s global reach and recognition, including the 2017 UNESCO International Literacy Prize, highlight its success in promoting reading and social entrepreneurship.

Why It’s Innovative  

WLR stands out for its community-driven approach. Unlike top-down programs, it empowers local volunteers, primarily women, to lead reading sessions on their own terms, fostering ownership and flexibility. The relaxed reading style of the volunteers respects local preferences by avoiding discussions that might feel like a traditional testing environment. By utilizing culturally relevant books and focusing on physical books, WLR creates accessible and relatable experiences for children. Its scalability—active in 65 countries with 8,000 volunteers worldwide—demonstrates its adaptability to diverse environments.

WLR Volunteer Reading Story to Child

What Needs to Improve  

Despite its strengths, WLR has room for growth. Research studies have found no significant impact on children’s literacy or self-reported attitudes toward reading, suggesting that the program’s light-touch approach may not be sufficient to boost literacy skills. 

Adding interactive elements, such as discussing book content or new vocabulary, can enhance outcomes while maintaining cultural sensitivity. The program’s short duration (12–15 weeks) may also limit its effects, as longer interventions might yield stronger results.

WLR is a program that brings happiness to refugee children and purpose to women through community reading. It helps mothers see their kids' reading habits more positively and increases volunteers' life satisfaction. To boost literacy, the program could use more interactive activities and longer sessions. With improvements, WLR can better empower displaced communities and foster a lasting love for reading.

Sources:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68903-9#Sec1

https://news.yale.edu/2024/04/05/volunteering-enhances-life-satisfaction-among-syrian-refugee-women

https://almashareq.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_am/features/2023/05/01/feature-04

https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/books/2023/04/24/the-jordanian-reading-initiative-shaping-young-minds-around-the-world/