By Past District Governor Julie Mason AM
Baden Powell College has students from Prep to Year 9 from over 60 different language groups from 40 different countries. Significant levels of poverty prevent families from providing reading material at home. Many parents have English as their second language and are not confident or literate in the English language.
Whilst the College tried to purchase reading material in dual languages, it found such material difficult to source. Wyndham Rotarians have therefore been working with Baden Powell College teachers, senior students and parents from refugee backgrounds to purchase, translate and prepare picture storybooks in languages that support Early Years Literacy Development in students.
As it had been difficult to engage parents, especially women from refugee backgrounds, in activities held at school, a plan was hatched to bring together senior students, parents and teachers to translate picture storybooks into Dinka (a Nilotic dialect cluster spoken by the Dinka people, the major ethnic group of South Sudan). This has proven very successful, and, thanks to Wyndham Rotary’s application for a District Grant, funds have been provided to replicate this project and translate picture storybooks into the other five major languages that prevail across the College.
The project has seen parents engaged positively with a school activity and building trust with teachers. A bond has also been formed across the various cultures, and now a Library of Languages is available for parents to borrow books so that they can read short stories to pre-school children at home, as well as support their children already attending school. Parents have connected to Rotary and are able to see how best Rotary can support marginalised families in our community.
This project could be beneficial for other schools. It is a wonderful opportunity for Rotary to support early literacy development in young children in our local communities.
For more information about this opportunity, contact PDG Julie Mason Julie.Mason@education.vic.gov.au