Background

Conclusive studies have demonstrated that early access to age-appropriate reading materials plays a central role in the development of comprehension and literary skills in children. Reading is essential not only in order to decode words and information, it helps children to improve their language skills, cognitive abilities and to build focus. Students who read regularly have been seen to outperform their peers in academic settings in almost all cases. It also drives empathy and imagination, and exposes children to a wider range of perspectives than would generally be available to them. 

However, in India, a significant number of children—around 60%—from economically disadvantaged communities do not have access to reading resources, depriving them from the opportunity to develop the related functions of language, cognition and empathy. As such, they are bereft of basic academic developmental opportunities from the very beginning. Needless to say, such students face challenges in their higher education and later employment outcomes. When it comes to economically challenged families, this situation fuels the cycle of disadvantage. 

Addressing the gap in access to reading resources is crucial for ensuring that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have the tools that they need to thrive. By providing these resources, we can support the development of essential skills that will help them succeed in school and later in life, which is precisely the goal of the initiatives taken by In Rhyme.