Club helps children read

Six-year-old Maina Raepa from Central is excited about starting his education to join his three siblings at school — thanks to a new reading club established through the PNG-Australia Partnership.
Raepa is one of the many children who will be celebrating the Universal Children’s Day today — a day to promote international togetherness and awareness among children.
Research suggests early learning programmes, such as reading clubs, play an important role in shaping cognitive, social and language skills. Children who attend these programmes perform better.
Reading clubs have been established in 26 schools across Rigo and Kairuku districts through the Together for Education project, an initiative of the Australian government, in partnership with the PNG Government and implemented by ChildFund.
These reading clubs aim to give four to six-year-olds a head start with reading.
The clubs are run by volunteers.