Picture of the week

These are my little neighbors during my time with the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. They were helping the teachers by carrying newly donated books that were delivered by bush taxi. They were very serious about their task but took a great detour to come show me the books since I was always telling them the importance of going to school. They got very serious when I took the picture but right before that they were talking excitedly about what they had already learned that day. UNICEF puts the adult literacy rate in Niger from 2005 to 2010 as low as 29%! I hope that we all can help this number in Niger and across the world to rise so that other little children can be as my little neighbors!

This picture and essay were submitted to the 2012 Reading Changed My Life Contest by Cariad Shepherd of the United States.

Take a look at some of the nearly 1,000 photos and videos submitted to the Reading Changed My Life Photo and Video Contest and then get involved in helping children learn and grow.