John, after a long school year spent sitting in a classroom, summer should be a time for children to engage with what they’ve learned while also having fun. But for 11 million children living in poverty across the United States, summer can lead to disproportionate levels of learning loss.
Without regular access to art supplies, books or learning support, many low-income children lose two to three months of reading and math skills each summer. These kids are in danger of missing out on the futures they deserve because of the devastating effects of poverty and inequality – and that just isn’t fair.
But with help from our generous supporters, we work with children and their communities to make summer fair for all children. Our “Books & Barbers” literacy program is just one example of how your support is changing children’s lives.
Driven by a desire to make books more available to kids outside of school while also taking away children’s anxieties about getting a haircut, SummerBoost camp program coordinator, Brittany, started the Books & Barbers project last year.
As part of the program, participants painted bookshelves that were distributed at salons and barber shops across eastern Kentucky. The shelves were filled with a variety of books and, in collaboration with local schools, kids who read one of the books were able to earn a homework pass to use on any assignment. Now, books are more accessible outside of school, kids are learning to love reading and they’re excited to get a haircut!
The Books & Barbers project is just one of many community initiatives made possible by Save the Children’s award-winning SummerBoost camp. Kids who attend the camp work together to build their community leadership skills while also gaining access to healthy meals, summer learning, exercise and social engagement.
