“The more you read, the more you know.
The more you learn, the more places you'll go.”
Dr. Suess
Reading is the most essential skill a child must have to be able to learn.
Skipping this core educational building block has severe repercussions for the rest of the child’s life. Many children in Thailand cannot escape the cycle of generational poverty, primarily due to the lack of education and early childhood development.
In Thailand’s most extensive yet least developed region, or Isan, the Tai Wisdom Association (TWA) identified that over 80% of 10 - 11-year-old children lack fundamental reading skills or cannot read at all.
They also discovered that children who cannot read are more likely to drop out of school early, with no prospects of a stable future. They remain stuck in a helpless cycle of poverty.
TWA was set up to break this cycle and create a better future for the next generation. It believes that every child has the right to be literate and, therefore a fighting chance for their future.
About us
We raise national awareness of the importance of reading aloud and develop programs to implement this.
After 25 years of experience, we have developed the knowledge and understanding of what approach has worked and what has not.
We have three goals:
1) To enable access to quality books for every child.
2) To improve teachers’ skills, knowledge, and attitude to carry out long-term reading promotion programs.
3) To increase a student’s reading interest.
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”
Margaret Filler
We realise that just providing books will not make the necessary changes. The books need to be of high quality and tailored to the age group of the children. But most importantly, there needs to be proper training and support for the teachers and academic staff to improve reading comprehension skills and increase the children’s reading interest. Only when all three goals are achieved will children pick up any book and read unassisted with pleasure.
We are dedicated to seeing the next generation grow up with fundamental reading skills that will open doors of possibilities and create a better society. This dedication requires a long-term vision and partners who will work alongside us to promote and realise this dream. Together we can change the country one classroom at a time. Every child counts, and every little bit of support will help us realise this!
Today we can start seeing tangible improvements in the schools that have participated in our programs. We are ready to get more schools involved and need your help and support to achieve this.
If you are as inspired as us to make fundamental changes for the next generation of children, please consider donating and/or spreading more awareness.