TUSLA Child and Family Agency, alongside key stakeholders, celebrated the success of the Buddy Reading Programme with a special learning event for children and young people held at the International Rugby Experience in Limerick City.
The Buddy Reading Programme was developed as a Tusla seed funding project in 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength and is currently facilitated in four schools in Limerick City, coordinated by two school completion projects, STEPS and SSTAY.
The initial programme had two key objectives: to support and encourage primary school children with their reading and social development and to provide opportunities for transition year students to participate in meaningful social placement and contribute to their community.
This academic year, 73 young people participated in the programme, which saw local transition year students help the younger pupils with their reading.
Taking part in this year’s reading mentoring programme were students from Colaiste Mhichíl CBS, Coláiste Nano Nagle, Scoil Iosagáin CBS, and Our Lady of Lourdes National School.
Sinead Hickey, PPFS manager for Limerick at Tusla Mid West, said that “the Buddy Reading Programme has become an invaluable asset for children and young people in participating schools”.
“It gives young children to opportunity to learn in a fun and inclusive environment with their peers, and gives young adults involved a sense of achievement, as well as boosting empathy and connection with their communities. We look forward to seeing how this programme will grow within Limerick.”
