Being read to as a child is one of the strongest predictors of later academic success.
In Kyrgyzstan, several challenges keep families from reading with their children. There is a serious lack of easily available, affordable and illustrated storybooks, especially in the Kyrgyz language. Parents and caregivers lack time and opportunity due to heavy workloads. In addition, families often underestimate the significance of their role in supporting children’s language, learning, and development of self-esteem.
In response to these challenges, the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme in Kyrgyzstan (MSDSP KG), with the support of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), introduced “Reading for Children” (RfC).
This document outlines the context prior to the programme and key successes associated with it.
