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| Books in Homes- Alan Duff Charitable Foundation. |
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| Author : Edusearch
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| Created : 25 Sep 2002
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| Last Revision : 25 Sep 2002
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Books in Homes was inspired by Alan Duff who, with the help of Christine Fernyhough, developed the idea after realising that failures in adult life often stem from childhoods spent in bookless homes. The philosophy behind the programme is simple - to break the cycle of 'booklessness'. Kids who can't read become adults who can't communicate and that's a serious disadvantage in a world that operates on the written word.
The schools are selected from areas where the children are most likely to come from bookless homes. The Ministry of Education allocates schools a decile rating of between 1 and 10, according to the socio-economic status of the community in which a school is based. Books in Homes focuses on lower decile schools. Why? Because over half the parents in decile 1 catchments are without a school qualification. Furthermore, 42 percent of parents in decile 1 catchments received income support in the year preceding the 1996 Census, compared to just 7 percent for decile 10 catchment areas. Quite simply, the children from these schools are most likely to come from bookless homes.
Alan's self-help philosophy is reflected by the fact that each school joins in a financial partnership with their sponsors to fund their books. The books are selected by the children themselves and are theirs to take home and keep. Each book has a sticky label which has the child's name in it as well as the name of the school and sponsor who have given the book.
Since its inception, the programme has grown rapidly. There are currently 422 schools with over 83,000 kids all receiving a minimum 5 books per year.
Twice a year special HERO Role Model Assemblies are held at every school. Sportspeople, musicans, artists, writers, radio personalities, television presenters, fashion presenters and many other New Zealanders visit Duffy schools, present books and talk to the kids about their achievements and goals. They tell the kids "It's Cool to Read" and make a connection between success and reading. There is also a Budget Day Book where the kids are given their fifth book sponsored by the Government.
There are several other dimensions to the Books in Homes programme. Further information can be found at Books in Homes.
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