“Readers are leaders”

This saying is often used to inspire children to read because of the powerful role books play in developing the minds of future leaders.

Leaders have Compassion and Curiosity

Reading broadens a child’s understanding of the world and increases a child’s empathy and compassion for others. We can walk in someone else’s shoes and experience another culture within the pages of a book. For this reason, stories have wonderful way of teaching children about diversity, kindness and accepting others. 

Books also spark curiosity in children, which encourage them to reach across differences and create friends, instead of enemies. Such characteristics are important for future leaders.

Read more about how reading builds empathy here: How Reading Builds Empathy in Children – My Reflection Children’s Store (myreflectiontt.com)

Leaders are Resilient and Creative 

Reading fosters resilience, develops problem-solving skills, builds knowledge and wisdom, exposes children to new things and enhances creativity.

Leaders have Advanced Literacy Skills

Reading helps develop essential language skills that are crucial for success, such as writing a resume, a loan application or a business proposal. Advanced literacy skills empower people to create powerful changes in their lives and take on leadership roles in society.

Leaders are Courageous

When South African’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, was in prison, he spent a lot of time reading Shakespeare’s plays that were smuggled into the prison by another political prisoner. 

The political and social problems  explored through Shakespeare’s plays gave him hope, inspired him to remain courageous and made him willing to sacrifice everything for his ideals.

Dr. Eric Williams’s passion for Literacy and Education 

When our first Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams was born in 1911, a staggering 70% of our population was illiterate and only 46% of school-aged children attended school. Furthermore, since school was optional in those days and parents had little great faith in education anyway, even the children who were registered at school spent precious little time of the year in such buildings. 

He always had a passion for learning which bore fruit when in 1922, at 11 years of age, he won an exhibition to Queen’s Royal College, and this opportunity was the springboard for his many achievements and empowered him to become a leader.

Dr. Williams later attended Oxford University and Howard University and continued to be concerned about the welfare of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. He was passionate about how education can help the people of Trinidad & Tobago to prosper and have a better quality of life. 

He had always realized he was lucky to get a secondary education, getting one of about few places offered at Q.R.C. in 1922 and wanted all children to have the opportunity to get an education. 

On becoming Prime Minister, one of his main objectives was to transform the educational landscape. He wanted secondary education for all and at Independence in 1962, Williams addressed school children at a rally and told them that “the future of our nation is in our children’s school bags”. 

A similar sentiment was expressed by Nelson Mandela, who stated “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Ongoing Literacy Crisis

In spite of Dr. Williams’ efforts, Trinidad & Tobago continues to have a literacy crisis with only 77% of adults able to read and write well. (See the details here: Literacy-Survey-94.pdf (alta-tt.org)). That means that 23% of our population is not equipped with the literacy skills required to function successfully in society. The best way to stand for education and put an end to this crisis is to get as many books as possible into children’s hands.

Let’s Transform our Nation

Reading is not simply about collecting information or enjoying a hobby. Reading creates amazing changes in an individual. 

As our children grasp for identity, purpose and worth, they can find it in the pages of a book. 

Let us therefore commit to raising a generation of readers who will rise up to lead our nation with empathy, courage and creativity.