Chol-Awan Majok’s father fought for the well-being of the people in his Sudanese community. He believed that opportunities followed a solid education. Although he wasn’t fortunate enough to go to school himself, he wanted better for his children.
Chol was the first generation of his family to attend school when he immigrated to the United States at age sixteen as one of the ‘lost boys’ of Sudan. The lessons he learned from his father ingrained in him that learning how to read and write is crucial to being successful in life.
“My father wanted us to do our best, go to school, read and write, and be able to change our country,” said Chol. “It is important to me to teach my children how to read and write, and to pursue higher education. I want to change the course of our family history.”
Every Saturday morning Chol or his wife took their children to the library. Even when they were too young to know how to read, they wanted to teach their children the importance of learning. When his third child was born, Chol’s wife enrolled them in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County.
“A child should be able to get a sixty-book library by the time they turn five if they’re enrolled at birth,” said Ashlea Vallejos, assistant manager of the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County. “It’s completely free so families don’t have to worry about any financial obligation.”
When their books arrive in the mail, the eyes of Chol’s children light up. They can’t wait to read them, so Chol and his wife always set aside time to read them together as a family.
“When the new books come in the mail we take time to bond and read together,” said Chol. “It is a priceless tool for our children’s education and we are grateful to have this program available to us.”
Imagination Library is a countywide program designed to improve children’s kindergarten readiness. Each month, enrolled children receive a free book in the mail addressed to them, up until their fifth birthday. We provide management, research and funding support to the Literacy Coalition toward this effort.
“A child should be able to get a sixty-book library by the time they turn five if they’re enrolled at birth,” said Ashlea Vallejos, assistant manager of the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County. “It’s completely free so families don’t have to worry about any financial obligation.”
When their books arrive in the mail, the eyes of Chol’s children light up. They can’t wait to read them, so Chol and his wife always set aside time to read them together as a family.
“When the new books come in the mail we take time to bond and read together,” said Chol. “It is a priceless tool for our children’s education and we are grateful to have this program available to us.”
