From our youngest learners, joining the Kindy program as early as 4 years old, to our seasoned students preparing to graduate, every student at REACH is on a remarkable journey toward biliteracy. Traditionally, literacy means the ability to read and write in one language, but at REACH, our students aim higher. Their goal is biliteracy, as they strive to master writing, reading, and expressing themselves confidently in two languages, both English and Khmer. Every day, our students display consistent effort, curiosity, and resilience towards achieving this goal, and this September, we celebrated Literacy Day for the first time to acknowledge their unwavering dedication.
On the 8th of September each year, UNESCO‘s International Literacy Day takes place across the globe as a reminder of the power of literacy to transform lives. Reading and writing are more than just basic skills, they are pathways that lead to greater knowledge, opportunities, and personal freedom. This year, we at REACH proudly joined in the celebration for the very first time, honouring our students incredible progress and taking a moment to reflect on the lasting importance of literacy.
To celebrate this special day, our students took part in a variety of activities designed to help them reflect on and strengthen their English literacy skills. We were fortunate to receive tremendous support from The Information Lab, a longstanding partner of REACH whose generous contributions helped make this event possible.
Teacher Chhenghak and two students showing off their books of choice.
English teachers Hun and Chhenghak, our MCs for the day, opened the inaugural event with thoughtful remarks highlighting the importance of celebrating Literacy Day. Hun shared, “This is a very special day for our students, and we get to celebrate the event for the first time at REACH.”
He went on to explain, “The event is very important to help students build knowledge and think reading is important to them. As the MC, I wanted to add critical thinking moments for them that gave them ideas to think about and to learn independently.”
Building on this idea, Chhenghak reflected on how the event fostered effective communication among students. “Throughout the event, we can give students a chance to share their ideas with each other and give them more confidence to communicate in English with others. This event can also push students’ initiative to think critically and apply their reflections to real-life situations,” she said, further emphasising the day’s impact.
Following the opening remarks, students took part in two reading sessions designed to make literacy both meaningful and fun. The first was a group reading activity, where students read aloud alongside their peers, building confidence and connection through shared stories. Afterwards, they participated in an independent reading session, allowing them to explore texts on their own. At the end of each reading session, students wrote their reflections on sticky notes, sharing how the experience made them feel.
These notes revealed a joyful sense of positivity and enthusiasm toward reading. “I love reading books because it helps my brain,” said one student. “I’m happy for reading with my friend,” added another.
Students shared their thoughts and feelings on sticky notes after reading activities.
The books used for the event came from our very own REACH library, a space we opened earlier this year where students can choose from a large selection of books at any given time. The library holds a vital role in promoting literacy at REACH, giving students access to books that inspire curiosity and strengthen their English skills.
Our partners at The Information Lab have long supported this mission by donating many of the books that fill our shelves. This year, they took that support even further by contributing a fleet of e-reader tablets. For students who had never held an e-reader before, this new tool opened the door to an even wider world of stories and learning resources. With access to both print and digital texts, students can now explore reading in more interactive and engaging ways than ever before.
These e-readers are also a great example of this year’s UNESCO International Literacy Day theme, “Promoting literacy in the digital era.” In today’s day and age, literacy is no longer limited to reading and writing on paper, it now includes digital literacy. Digital literacy is defined as the ability to find, evaluate, and communicate information using digital tools such as computers, tablets, and more. The Information Lab’s donation helps bridge this gap by ensuring our students are equipped not only with traditional literacy skills, but also with the digital confidence they’ll need to succeed in an increasingly online world.
In the REACH library, students now have access to brand new e-readers thanks to The Information Lab!
In the final portion of the event, students had the chance to take the stage and share their reflections on the day. Each brave volunteer was entered into a lucky draw for the chance to win a free custom T-shirt, courtesy of The Information Lab. The energy in the room was electric as students cheered for one another, celebrating the winners and sharing smiles all around.
As the event came to a close, there was a shared sense of pride in the air. Students left feeling inspired by what they had accomplished and motivated to continue their journey toward biliteracy. It was a day that celebrated not only literacy, but also community, confidence, and growth.
Reflecting afterward, Hun shared how meaningful it was to witness the students’ enthusiasm. “I can see the effects of the event as it got students into the habit of reading and sharing what they read about with others,” he said. “We should celebrate this event every year.” Chhenghak echoed this sentiment, adding, “Even in this short time, students were able to comprehend the texts they were reading, and this can lead them to gain more interest in reading.”
Students received free T-shirts from The Information Lab for their active participation!
Events like this take on even greater meaning when viewed in Cambodia’s broader educational context. While the country’s literacy rate has shown steady improvement over the past decade, it still lags behind much of Southeast Asia. According to UNESCO’s most recent data in 2022, Cambodia’s literacy rate has risen from 78% in 2014 to just over 83%. However, this remains significantly lower than neighbouring countries such as Vietnam (96%), Thailand (91.1%), and Laos (87.5%).
Despite this progress, many children continue to face significant barriers to developing strong reading skills. Limited access to books, under-resourced schools, and a lack of early literacy support all contribute to the challenge.
Cambodia also ranks among the lowest countries in Education First’s English Proficiency Index, the world’s largest ranking of adult English skills, placing in the lowest tier of proficiency at #111 out of 116 nations. With English instruction in public schools severely limited, REACH provides students with the opportunity to develop strong literacy skills that help them defy these statistics and unlock more equitable opportunities for further education and future employment.
We would like to emphasise our gratefulness towards The Information Lab for their ongoing support of REACH over the years. The Information Lab has contributed in many ways to our literacy programs, from enriching our library with a wide selection of books to sponsoring custom T-shirts for our first-ever International Literacy Day celebration. Their generosity helped to ensure that this event was a memorable experience for the students.
Partnerships like this not only support the day-to-day work at REACH but also have a broader impact on our mission. Through corporate collaboration, we can expand our programs, hold more events such as Literacy Day, and provide families with the resources they need for holistic support. Together, we can equip students with vital skills, tools, and opportunities to break cycles of poverty and thrive academically, personally, and in their future endeavours.
If your organisation would like to get involved and make a difference in the lives of our students, we encourage you to reach out to emily@reachsiemreap.org. With your support, our students can move closer to reaching their bi-literacy goals and building the skills they need to thrive.
Given the success of this year’s celebration, we plan to make Literacy Day an annual tradition at REACH. We hope to continue pushing our community toward a stronger reading culture, giving our students the opportunity to defy the statistics that too often define their futures.
Watch the video below to see Literacy Day in action!