Barriers to Books

What is the purpose of a story?

I asked my children this question a few weeks ago and I got a range of different answers including; read for fun; entertaining; enjoyment; stories can give you messages; some stories make you think about how someone if feeling and how you can help them.

Initially, I wanted to design a future learning space that could incorporate my passion and love for children's books, after all most children no matter where they are in the world would love a good story. After much research and reflection I realised that although introducing stories to the children of Haiti would be wonderful and many messages can be taught through the power of a book but there are also barriers:

. many children don't speak, read or understand English

. many children have not had any form of education and cannot read so my choice of books would need to be translated, would there be people available to do this

. the meanings and messages portrayed in picture books

here in Australia are not going to have the same meanings to a displaced, orphaned, traumatised child living in a make shift tent in Haiti. The children will not have the same background knowledge or understanding to relate to the stories I would use

There is certainly a place for good story books in Child Friendly Learning Spaces in Haiti but this is not the right approach needed for my FLS. I now understand that I need to create a more visual and personal resource that could be used to convey meaning and messages.