By Seli Baisie
The Readers Bay Foundation has launched a unique initiative called ‘The Reading Caravan,’ blending tourism with a love of reading.
This one-day road trip, Ghana’s first tourist-readers adventure, engages patrons in reading while traveling.
On Saturday, 22nd June 2024, the Reading Caravan bus departed from Accra Mall at 8:30 am, heading towards Larteh and Mampong Akropong in the Eastern Region.
The first stop was at the Akonedi Shrine Global Headquarters in Larteh Kubease, where patrons received a brief history of the shrine.
The second stop was at Akropong Methodist Primary School, where Irene Boakye-Danquah, the founder of Readers Bay Foundation, hosted a reading competition for the school children.
The vibrant students took turns reading, with the best-performing class being declared the winner.
The competition aimed to encourage a love of books and boost children’s literacy.
To further support this goal, the foundation donated assorted books to stock the school’s library.
The final stop of the day was at the Anagkazo Bible and Ministry Training Centre.
Patrons were taken on a tour of the facility, which includes chapels, conference rooms, dormitories, and recreational facilities.
In an interview, Irene Boakye-Danquah, Founder of Readers Bay Foundation explained the foundation’s new approach.
“In previous tours, we focused solely on visiting schools and conducting literacy activities. This time, we are fusing them with tourism because we believe that tourism can unveil many wonders to the world. While we tour the country, we are also learning,” she said.
The Reading Caravan initiative aims to make every Ghanaian child’s educational experience comparable to that of their peers in more privileged circumstances, demonstrating that with the right resources and support, such goals are achievable.
By combining literacy with tourism, the Readers Bay Foundation continues to innovate in its mission to enhance the educational experiences of Ghanaian children.
