Reading Owls International

Reading Owls was started by husband and wife team, Easton and Elaine Dickson, who did not have access to books at home, in school or their communities while growing up in Jamaica. Even though they both loved reading the lack of books made it extremely difficult to read. Today the lack of access to books is still pervasive in many Jamaican communities, and almost 50% of children do not have a book at home. In the words of Easton, after a recent visit, "When I visit my hometown, and many other communities, it feels like many areas of Jamaica are in a time warp. The lack that I experienced nearly 40 years ago is still a reality. Within that context it is difficult for kids to advance out of their current situation." That bleak picture was the impetus for starting Reading Owls. We aim to disrupt the cycle of poverty and close the book on illiteracy by ensuring that regardless of where a child is born they can experience book-rich environments and develop as independent, lifelong learners and ultimately as significant contributors in their community.