Nine-year-old Janel Cudjoe, a parishioner of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Derby Avenue and a winner of Bookworm reading championship season 7 has announced the launch of the Janel Helps Read Foundation. An initiative to encourage reading among deprived children in Ghana.
Speaking at the launch at the Sacred Heart Parish on June 10, young Janel expressed her gratitude to God, her loved ones, and the organizers of the competition for their support.
Reflecting on her journey, she highlighted the valuable personal and social lessons she gained through Bookworm, emphasizing the competition’s aim to provide international exposure for winners. Inspired by her experience, she introduced the Janel Helps Read Foundation with a vision to cultivate reading habits among young children.
The foundation’s mission statement revolves around ensuring that every child is provided with a reading book, driven by the pillars of Leadership, Education, and Development.
Janel stressed the connection between reading and leadership, underscoring that readers are often effective communicators and future leaders.
“It is said that readers are leaders. A good leader is one who is able to communicate and understand ideas and situations clearly for positive outcome. Reading books boosts ones understanding and communication ability. In this part of the world where the colonial tongue is the official medium of communication, it is a wise thing to be fluent in this tongue. The reading of books by children give them the necessary preparation to take advantage of future opportunities. Reading will make children competent and effective communicators, which will make them wonderful leaders,” she averred.
Additionally, she emphasized the importance of education, explaining that reading plays a vital role in academic success and personal growth. Janel also highlighted how reading enhances creativity, aids decision-making, and fosters overall development.
Janel passionately urged the audience to join her in supporting deprived children, as she believes that empowering them through reading will pave the way for a brighter future.
Janel is a class 3 pupil of St Martin De Porres School West Hill branch. She joined the competition which started on January 6 with the finals taking place on April 22.
The Bookworm competition is organised by the Bookworm Avenue Consult to encourage reading among children.
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