BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AVID readers between the ages of 8-11 are encouraged to register for the 14th incarnation of the Charles A. Halbert Public Library’s Annual Easter Programme, which runs from April 6 to 9.
Held under the theme “Express Yourself”, this year’s workshop will not only address reading and writing skills, but will also focus heavily on public speaking training.
According to Assistant Librarian Carmen Blanchard, drama pieces and special presentations by members of the community are among some of the exciting items on the agenda.
Through these activities, she stressed, children would be taught to clearly and assertively express themselves in speech.
She expounded on the rationale behind this year’s theme and area of concentration.
“The staff realised that many children have difficulty with oral expression. By including public speaking as a component of our annual programme, we are hoping to assist them in improving those skills.
“Being good at reading and writing are important, yes. But the ability to confidently express oneself in speech is also critical to the development of effective citizens,” said Blanchard.
The Annual Easter Programme is the successor to the Easter Read-A-Thon Programme which began in 1995. The nation’s best and brightest young readers competed against one another to determine who could read the most books within a two-year period.
Past winners include National Scholarship Winner Makini Byron, 2009 Organisation of American States (OAS) Scholarship Recipient Ivor Carr (1996) and Akeem Bacchus (2000), a member of the victorious 2009 Leeward Islands Debating Team.
Blanchard attributed their success to the positive benefits they derived as participants of the programme.
“Their reading habit provided a solid foundation on which their lives could be enhanced. It also ensured their continued success and achievement of their goals and ambitions. Their accomplishments are a testimony of the benefits that one can derive from being an avid reader,” she asserted.
