United Way Imagination Library

Most of you know I was a book worm from way back. So was my Mum, and so was her Mum, and her Mum. Generations of readers. And if not books then magazines and newspapers. So was it nature or nurture?

But sadly in Australia, and Ballarat many kids don't get to experience the joy of books. They have nobody to read to them and just don't have any books of their own. No money, no time, not a priority? 

But it's proven that children who are read to from a very young age do better at school and later in life than those who miss out on family story time. 23% of Ballarat's children are not ready for prep when they start school. They can't recognise their own name, they can't count to 10 or name colours. Basic stuff. 

 

Books are so much more than just words on a page. I always write about Books with Benefits. You can touch them. Feel them. Get lost in them. Go to another time, another place. Imagine.

Today I met the lovely Jan from United Way Ballarat who is crusading to fix it. The Imagination Library, started by Dolly Parton! A book a month for disadvantaged kids in Ballarat for the first 5 years of their life! A book chosen just for them at no cost to their family. That's 60 books per child, they may have never owned a book otherwise.

How amazing is that???? 60 books each!

I saw some today. They are just gorgeous. Spot. Walter the Farting Dog. Roald Dahl. Mem Fox (I LOVE Possom Magic). Touch & feel Peekaboo books. Allison Lester and the list just goes on. I could have stayed all day.

But with a waiting list of 7000 kids, and a realistic target of 4,500 kids, that's at least 270,000 books over the next 20 years! Yes, I said 20 years.

SO THEY NEED YOU!

They need you to register as a reading partner and sponsor a book a month per child. They need you to give the children of Ballarat the opportunities they deserve. There is no "Gonski" money for this program. It is run by Ballarat people, for Ballarat people, sponsored by Ballarat people. 

$6 per month will sponsor 1 book for 1 child. 

Less than a salad roll & diet coke from the bakery. 

Is a child's opportunity in life worth more to you than taking your lunch to work once a month? 

Heck, I've convinced myself. Where do I sign up? 

HERE

http://unitedwayballarat.org.au/ballarat-imagination-library