Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program

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

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

The Family Story Hour features children’s books from various cultural backgrounds, including selections written by local and regional authors. By tailoring the content of the program to the unique context of the Pacific, children and their families can connect with the stories and activities presented while celebrating the island’s rich languages, traditions, and landscapes.

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

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