Hi John, this 6-year-old is eager to learn!

Ahmad shows off his sight words in his first-grade classroom.

Ahmad is all smiles in the picture above, but there was a time when he struggled to read, feeling left behind and defeated. Thanks to Save the Children’s literacy program, Ahmad’s reading scores have soared — by a whopping 22 points! — along with his confidence.

Ahmad participated in one of our small group learning programs at his school in rural Mississippi. With the support and encouragement of his peers and Save the Children mentor, Ms. Ellison, he is now reading poems, decoding sentences and even sharing new words with his family.

As Ahmad’s mother Alicia reminds us:

“Never doubt your child’s ability to learn. Late bloomers sometimes outgrow others and blossom.”

John, this is the kind of change that we can make together.

Access to education is limited in rural communities across the United States and beyond. Limited resources mean that rural schools are more likely to lack qualified teachers, a variety of course access, and technology advancements.

That’s why Save the Children steps up to unlock children’s potential, open doors and ensure that kids have the opportunity to thrive in the classroom. Our research-backed programs, like in-school literacy support and small-group mentoring, help kids thrive academically while building critical skills.

Check out how we’re helping to ensure that every child in rural America can learn, grow and succeed — regardless of where they live.

Our literacy programs are designed to help students like Ahmad reach grade-level reading proficiency through small group interaction, games and enjoyable activities. Grade-level proficiency is a strong indicator of a child’s future success, including their likelihood of graduating high school, attending college, and earning potential.

Across rural America, the impact of unequal access to education resources is evident through variations in academic performance, graduation rates and college attendance. That’s why we work to close the gap early.

Building equal opportunity for children across rural America is central to Save the Children’s work. Our programs help kids prepare for kindergarten, over the summer and year-round. Read more about Save the Children’s education efforts in rural America for kids yearning to learn.

Thanks for all you do,

Save the Children