Kahani is an innovative reading project designed to embed a culture of reading in English amongst Muslim and Pakistani communities in the UK.
Over 300 specially selected beautiful books are used with young people and families to inspire a love of reading.
Combined with authors and artists/illustrators that speak to their experience, this is a package that provides a refreshing alternative to stimulate a lifelong passion for books.
(more…)
The contemporary literary heritage from these communities is rich in ideas and stories spanning the UK, Pakistan and the Diaspora. It speaks directly to everyday experience of multiple identities, political turmoil, of love and loss, social and economic aspirations and redefining constantly what it means to be British, Pakistani and Muslim.
A network of authors and artists are invited to engage with communities across the UK in locally based venues, to interact with non-traditional book reading audiences. Regular readers will be encouraged to become reading champions.
This will be complemented at school level by children’s authors working with students and families that are directly relevant to their experience.
Once inspired, people have readily signed up to promote reading in all its facets. The purpose is to embed a rooted network that will sustain an organic relationship between children, parents and their educators. Accessing reading for pleasure will mark a fundamental shift in educational attainment.
Bradford Literacy Campaign
The National Literacy Trust have established a hub in Bradford to address issues of low literacy over a three year period. Their efforts will be targeted at geographic wards and groups who struggle to access the benefits of good communication skills through a sound grasp of literacy. Their thinking is out of the box and will hopefully develop narratives for those traditionally marginalised.
Bradford Libraries
Their reader development programme already supports 80 reading groups through the city. They have a wealth of experience to maintain the library service as a vehicle for reading pleasure, enhancing educational opportunity and social mobility.
Want an inspiring author to come to your locality?
Get in Touch
We will arrange a suitable date and venue.
Communicate
The key to success is embedding the process within your community.
Invite
Invite stakeholders who are genuinely committed to grassroots organisation.
Talk
We will arrange aDiscuss expectations and keep others informed about events and activities that develop. suitable date and venue.
Encourage
Get people talking about reading!
Inspire
Those who are already regular readers can act as reading champions. What better way to inspire a child to read for pleasure.
Schools participating in Kahani and Arooj have reported the following benefits for pupils:
Pupils with English as an additional language (EAL) progress by recognition of the following factors.
These are all recognised within the framework document for the new national curriculum.
Kahani develops literacy through the expansion of this cultural knowledge.
Other Benefits
The new KS2 history option on early Islamic civilisation provides a platform for greater cultural understanding. This is fully resourced through the Kahani materials.
It provides a living model for discussing religious education. It contributes to a rounded appreciation of the contemporary Islamic experience in the UK. This is of great benefit to students and families discussing faith and its relevance to relations with differing communities.
International and local linking activities. Kahani can facilitate work with schools and charitable projects working in the UK and across the Islamic world.
These activities are recognised by OFSTED as providing rich and stimulating experiences that allow students to develop an inclusive and global perspective on all aspects of the curriculum.
Schools can provide a culturally sensitive curriculum that acknowledges and supports the background of their families. This can inspire pupils to the highest expectations. Recent controversies have shown how this needs to be continually reinforced.
Mike Pope
Headteacher, Lidget Green Primary School
The books have been well used by children and have provided them with valuable information and further insight into their faith, culture and home language. The high literary quality have helped the children to gain a much deeper appreciation of their own culture as well as well as exposing them to other cultures from around the world. The opportunity to read books that may present a viewpoint different from their own, also helps to promote healthy debate and discussion and this can only be a good thing.
Trish Gavin
Principal, Whetley Academy
It’s fantastic to have the Kahani Reading Project as a resource for Bradford. The events such as author presentations provide cultural enrichment that Bradford can be proud of. We have stocked our library with many of the varied titles.
The project brings together a wide range of high quality beautifully illustrated reading material for children as well as books which parents will enjoy.
I would strongly encourage anyone who is interested in reading and expanding their horizons to find out more and get involved.