Setting up a children’s reading tent in the slum areas of Makerere Kikoni, Kawempe Division

Abstract

The project entailed setting up a Children’s Reading Tent in the slum areas of Makerere Kikoni in Kawempe Division. The aim of the Children’s Reading Tent was to find out how existing Children’s Reading Tents operate in Uganda, to find out the requirements for setting up Children’s Reading Tent and to set up Children’s is Reading Tent in Makerere Kikoni. The project set up a day long Children’s Reading Tent for children in Makerere Kikoni. The Tent’s major purpose was to help improve the reading culture of children in slum areas and to impart this culture in them at a tender age. The tent was participated in by 30 children, 2 parents and 5 Children’s Reading Tent organisers. The reading tent involved various fun activities like silent reading, storytelling, spelling bee, word searching, games like football. Through use of the qualitative approach, the project employed a case study research design. Interview and observation methods were employed to collect data from the children, parents and CRT organisers. Research findings indicated that most children were interested in taking part in the CRT and so were their parents also willing to give them permission to be apart of it. The findings indicated that children enjoyed reading Non Text Book Reading Materials (NTBRMs) that were very interesting with pictures that also helped them relate to their environment. The project report thus recommended the provision of NTBRMs by the government, schools, libraries and information material providing organisations to the children. The report also recommended establishment of consistent and periodical CRTs in slum areas to ensure that children develop a reading culture.