Darla is an enthusiastic young woman who is already making a difference in her community. At age 10, she came up with an idea to promote literacy that has gone from strength to strength. Darla created Bookworm Wednesday, where she invited neighbourhood children to come to her house, borrow books, enjoy small incentives for reading them, and listen to a story being read aloud. The younger children are walked home at the end of the session.
Darla even applied to Empowering Youth for a grant to sponsor her project. I thought you might enjoy reading her proposal as much as I did:
August 6, 2007 Dear Kelly Curtis, I would like to request a grant in the amount of $23.00 from Empowering Youth for “Book Worm Wednesday.” This will be used to purchase rewards such as (whatever Kara and I get). Check out and return will be weekly for ages 7-12, and monthly for ages 4-6. We have books in stock ready for use. We now need something for youth as a reward after reading a book to encourage young people to read more. I appreciate your consideration of this grant proposal. Sincerely, D
Darla’s initiative is set to be recognized. Now aged twelve, she’s recently been named as a Youth Leader for Literacy by the National Education Association and Youth Service America. Her literacy promotion project is one of only twenty-five selected in the USA. She’ll be sharing tips to encourage youngsters to establish Bookworm Wednesday clubs in their own neighbourhoods.
“It’s equally important to not be afraid to ask for help. You are a kid doing what some might call an “adult” project, so ask for help! Any supportive adult is great. For me, the perfect fit was my mom, but yours could be a grandparent, an aunt, a librarian, a neighbor. The possibilities are endless. Last but not least, remember to thank your friends and supporters every day. They work hard, and they definitely deserve it.”
You can follow Darla’s progress on Pass the Torch blog.