Feed the Minds is supporting its partner, After School Ghana, in an initiative to improve literacy and academic performance among children in three rural villages, through publishing folkstories for reading clubs. The project is developing and printing the materials, recruiting and training tutors, and running reading clubs in the villages.
Before now, the youngsters have had no libraries or reading materials available to them. Parents have been very worried about their children’s education, in particular that they won’t be able to compete with their contemporaries in the cities. The folkstories, or ‘Anansesem’, are an integral part of Ghana’s Akan folklore. The tales are built around a spider called ‘Ananse’, and deal with human interaction and behaviour, environmental issues and the natural world. Modern versions cover both political and social issues – making them as relevant today as in centuries past.
After School Ghana, explains: “Unfortunately, children in many parts of rural Ghana do not have access to any published illustrated Ananse stories – and the tales are being lost. Publishing these books will not only help preserve an important part of our culture, but will improve children’s literacy levels as they see themselves and their traditions reflected in the stories that they read. We are anticipating that 1,200 children and young people will participate in the reading clubs. Importantly, this will be made up of equal numbers of boys and girls. As well as stimulating an increased interest in reading and literacy, the youngsters will learn important morals and values from local Ananse stories”.
