The Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) in Cincinnati, Ohio hosted their inaugural Summer Reading Program for the Sikh youth.
The program which began in June 2024, had participants as young as six months, accompanied by their parents, up to young adults of 22 years from Cincinnati, Dayton, and neighboring cities.
Over 100 English and Punjabi books for readers from all age groups were available. Additionally, coloring activity books showcasing Sikh faith symbols like the Ek Onkar and Khanda, and books like “Fascinating Folktales of Punjab” by Gurmeet Kaur, which was read aloud by parents to toddlers aged 6 months to 2 years were included in the collection.
Participants were provided with log sheets to track their reading hours, and prizes were awarded based on the number of hours spent reading.
Program coordinators, Aasees Kaur and Sameep Singh Gumtala explained that this was the first time program was organized, inspired by similar reading challenges in local libraries. “Every summer, I would see my son and daughter engage in local library reading programs, logging hours and earning rewards,” shared Gumtala. “That sparked the idea to bring this initiative to our Gurdwara.”
Aasees Kaur highlighted the overwhelming positive feedback from parents, noting, “We ended up with more than 40 participants, hundreds of hours logged, and many children were even seen reading books at the Gurdwara itself.”
The program concluded with a special event at an indoor recreation facility, where participants took part in mini bowling, electric go-karts, and games.
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