Eighteen months ago, the community hall in the village was used twice a year, for weddings and the harvest meeting. Today it is open five afternoons a week, and it is rarely quiet.

Where it started

A local teacher, two parents and a retired engineer noticed that children who fell behind in reading simply stopped coming to class. Nobody had a plan for them. So they made one: a free tutoring club, run by volunteers, with snacks and a reading corner.

We helped with books, a small grant for electricity and training for the first twelve volunteers. Everything else came from the village.

“I want to be a teacher, so I can help the little ones like they helped me.” Amina, 11

What changed in a year

• 60 children returned to regular school attendance

• Reading scores in the club rose by two grade levels on average

• Two former students now volunteer as reading buddies

What comes next

The club wants to add a weekend maths session and a small library that families can borrow from. If you would like to help, our volunteer team would love to hear from you.