Over 3000 students join UNDP’s online reading challenge

During the lockdown situation due to COVID crisis, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched an online book reading challenge for school children, where over 3000 children from across Bangladesh are taking part through quizzes.  

The book titled "Transformers" was jointly published by UNDP, in association with Her Story Foundation, to introduce 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to the children and youth through storytelling with illustrations.

The online book reading challenge was launched on May 7 and as of now, children from Jaago, Scholastica, Aga Khan, Sir John Wilson, Teach for Bangladesh, Chittagong Grammar School (Dhaka) and AISD accepted the challenge.

The quiz challenge was also made open for all on UNDP Bangladesh Facebook page to help the parents, keeping their children busy with stories on 17 changemakers who are contributing to achieving the SDGs. 

"I would like to thank UNDP and Her Stories for this wonderful opportunity for students to take part in this e-book Reading Challenge," Sabrina Shaheed, Principal of Sir John Wilson School shared. 

"Not only will it engage students in a fruitful manner during this period of isolation but it will also inspire them with 17 fascinating stories of young Bangladeshi individuals who have helped to develop the quality of Bangladeshi people's lives," she added.

Transformers features 17 young Bangladeshi changemakers whose work is innovative, altruistic, community-focused. It includes the story of Mahmud Hasan Tabib & Rana, also known as the rap duo Gully Boy, whose lyrics address the pressing issue of poverty.

It also features Ikram Uddin Abir, founder of Procheshta Food Bank which distributes leftover meals to the needy, Kamruzzaman Shadhin, an artist that created a dolphin-conservation boat, and Farhana Rashid or 'Toilet Apa' an architect who installs public toilets for women in Bangladesh, among more fascinating stories.

The book is meant to nurture quality reading habits through the stories of homegrown, Bangladeshi role models as now, more than ever, children need stories of encouragement and hope.

"Reading is the basis for all understanding of formal education, it is a fundamental skill from which all other learning in all disciplines can occur. It can be pure joy where so many worlds and relevant, timely knowledge is introduced to us," said Dr Dale Taylor, Principal of The Aga Khan School, Dhaka. 

"Transformers does an excellent job of highlighting important stories about young Bangladeshis who have made a difference. And I particularly appreciate that it focuses on those who many people may not have heard about," said Madiha Murshed, Managing Director of Scholastica.

The quiz challenge is open for all, and any student scoring above 6 will be awarded a hard copy of the book once lockdown restrictions are eased.

The book can be downloaded in Bangla: https://bit.ly/2yypks8 or English: https://bit.ly/2zjtzrw. To join the quiz challenge log on to https://bit.ly/2WFQVQi.