U.S. MISSION UGANDA PRESS RELEASE
March 15, 2019 | PR 02/19
PEACE CORPS UGANDA CELEBRATES “DROP EVERYTHING AND READ” DAY
KAMPALA – Peace Corps Uganda and its 154 Volunteers throughout the country celebrated Uganda’s 6th National D.E.A.R. (“Drop Everything and Read”) Day on Friday, March 15, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and others. D.E.A.R. Day is an effort to promote a culture of reading and love of learning on a national scale by encouraging all Ugandans to come together at the same time on the same day, put down whatever else they are doing, and engage in reading – whether at the workplace, schools, or home. Over the past five years growing numbers of Ugandans have participated, and this year Peace Corps Uganda and its partners are aiming for an even wider reach. The theme for this year’s D.E.A.R. Day is “Uganda Reads To Lead.”
As part of the D.E.A.R. Day celebrations, Deputy Chief of Mission Colette Marcellin visited the Luteete Mixed Primary School in Nakaseke District on Friday to read a book to the students and encourage all at the school to engage in reading. U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac participated in a press conference hosted by KCCA on Monday, March 11 to promote D.E.A.R. Day. In her remarks at the press conference, Ambassador Malac said, “There is nothing more fundamental than the ability to read. If we are to prepare Ugandans to reach their potential, we have to teach them to read.”
Peace Corps Uganda currently has 54 of its Volunteers working in the education sector either as Literary Specialists in primary schools or Teacher Trainers at primary teachers’ colleges. Education Volunteers work with their communities to promote literacy, school-wide positive behavior systems, equitable engagement strategies, and hands-on learning in all subject areas. The Volunteers also work with community leaders to enhance citizens’ love of reading and learning by establishing school libraries as well as reading and literacy clubs. Peace Corps Uganda’s Primary Literacy Project aims to improve the quality of primary education through improved classroom instruction and pupil achievement in literacy.
Peace Corps Uganda’s partners for this year’s D.E.A.R. Day included the Ministry of Education and Sports, KCCA, enjuba Spelling Bee, MixaKids, RTI, Cornerstone Schools, various NGOs, local leaders, parents, guardians, tribal officials, and media personalities.
For additional information, please contact:
Dorothy Nanyonga, Information Assistant, U.S. Mission Uganda
Tel: +256 414 306 410
Email: KampalaUSEmbassyPress@state.gov
nationaldearday@gmail.com or 0772139678
