Journey to Read

Journey to Read

Photo courtesy of #Uganda Reading.

As I sat in the waiting room at Kampala orthopaedic and Trauma centre, flipping through the New Vision while stealing glances at the TV which had talk about the death of AIGP -Felix Kaweesi(RIP).I landed on an article by Paul Busharizi titled ,”Time to walk with a book.”in the paper. (New Vision,17th March 2017, Pg 15)

Waiting rooms and appointments have one thing in common-TIME.Lots of time;30 minutes seem like an hour?
I was in for physiotherapy and had to wait for two people before I was attended too.Back to why I am writing this article.

Paul Busharizi talked about the just concluded “Drop Everything And Read”(DEAR) day on the Wednesday,3rd March.
The DEAR day was launched in Uganda in 2013 as a collaboration between the Education ministry and the US Peace Corps as a way to promote the reading culture and a love for learning.

Paul obviously schooled me,I saw the #DEAR trending on Wednesday but I had no idea what it meant until today. (Yaaay , the power of reading)
There is a whole world out there in information and only the ardent reader who is ready to spare 5 mins,20 mins or 1 hour and more will reap the harvest.

I have personally never struggled to read except for books which have a slow start.

According to Paul Busharizi,”The Jews known for their financial savvy,it is said their houses are not complete without a library, oftentimes built over generations.”

My mother’s house has no library just like many other homes in Uganda and possibly Africa at large.Most of my relatives still wonder why I constantly have my nose in a book(Why wouldn`t I??????)

The reading culture was left to the schools our parents took us too however the reading we learnt was to “pass exams.” We were not reading because we enjoyed or liked it for that matter.What happened to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old ,he will not depart from the way?

We can’t hide in social media 24/7,stick to TV ,movies and other entertainment avenues.We need more because there is more.We have the resources, let us foster a learning culture.Fostering is all about baby steps.Find a book you like and start with a page a day and let the habit grow on you.

Check out #UgandaReading a social movement building a strong reading culture in Uganda .(website:www.ugandareading.org, Twitter:@UgandaReading)

Like Paul Busharizi’s title,it’s time to walk with a book.Don’t just walk with it,read it too.

Journey to read today.

Racheal Kizza © 2017

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