Literacy Educators As Partners (LEAP) seeks your assistance to conduct our 2nd Annual Reading Workshop for children in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Guyana. This reading program will be held from July 14-18, 2025.

LEAP comprises several New York City public school teachers, including Ms. Sherene Noble and Ms. Petal Davis, who originated from Linden, Guyana. LEAP takes a different approach to teaching reading, one that focuses on active engagement with complex texts and ideas and developing higher-order thinking. Using research-based reading and vocabulary acquisition strategies, the program aims to help learners develop a love for reading and increase literacy levels.

Literacy and the development of critical thinking skills are key areas of focus for developing communities like Linden. This Reading Workshop aims to bridge the gap between reading outcomes for students of the community and UN Sustainable Development Goals for reading and developing lifelong learners. Participants will read diverse texts which will expose them to different cultures, perspectives, and experiences. This cultivates empathy and promotes understanding of others' viewpoints and life circumstances. Their exposure to a variety of genres, styles, and authors they might not have encountered otherwise will help broaden their literary knowledge and appreciation.

The aim is to improve reading skills, promote critical thinking, enhance collaborative engagements, expand literary horizons, foster empathy and understanding, build confidence, support different learning styles, and cultivate lifelong learning habits.

Your generous support will provide resource materials, snacks/meals, and school supplies for a maximum of 75 participants. Let’s partner to increase literacy in areas that need it the most.