Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program

Since 2000, Humanities Guåhan has been supporting island families through its Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy program. Working with a diverse group of educators to engage families through the power of books, this program is designed to strengthen bonds between parents and their children, increase adult literacy skills, promote school readiness, and encourage parents to value reading not only as an important family activity but also a pathway to additional educational and employment opportunities. ​

In 2020, the Family Story Hour program was designed for virtual audiences in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had impacted in-person gatherings and events. This program is an online presentation of the Motheread/Fatheread program, which aims to promote reading and literacy activities for Guam’s families and provide educational opportunities geared toward children and parents that encourage lifelong learning. 

The Family Story Hour features multicultural children’s books, including a selection written by local and regional authors. By tailoring the content of the program to the unique context of the Pacific, children and their families connect to the stories and activities we present while celebrating our diverse languages, cultures and physical landscapes. 

In 2021, we established a small network of indigenous storytellers from Guåhan and greater Micronesia, including Saina Rosa Palomo, Saina Rufina Mendiola, Pairourou Larry Raigetal, and elders Iros Waguk and Daisy Mackwelung in order to build lesson plans and presentations that highlight indigenous pedagogy and information literacy and cultural activities that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home and/or on digital platforms. 

For more information on how to participate, please contact our Program and Communications Manager, Nedine Songeni, at nfsongeni@humanitiesguahan.org.