Dictionaries in Schools

Transforming Lives Through Literacy

The Dictionary in Schools Project, initiated during the 2008-09 Rotary year, was inspired by Past RI President Bill Boyd, a proud New Zealander. This project seeks to elevate literacy standards among underprivileged children and young adults, empowering them through education to achieve self-sustainability.

During a visit by Education First Trustees to schools in Fiji, Head Teachers and educators highlighted the declining standards of conversational and written English among students. Introduction of dictionaries was raised, and the Head Teachers strongly advocated for providing personal dictionaries to address this challenge and improve literacy levels.

The Board of Education First saw an opportunity to assist the children in Fiji and made a proposal to Rotary Club of Auckland Harbourside to extend “Dictionary in Schools” project to schools in Fiji, jointly with Education First Trust.

The proposal included the funding of the purchase of the dictionaries by Rotary and provision of project leadership and logistics by Education First, representing both organisations. The proposal was approved by the Rotary Club.

Dr Narendra Reddy, a Professor at University of Fiji kindly assisted in identifying schools within the Trust’s guidelines, which are rural, isolated and low decile schools. He assisted the Trust in obtaining necessary regulatory approvals for the project and coordinated the project logistics including custom clearance, warehousing and distribution in Fiji. Approval from Ministry of Education Fiji was obtained through a Memorandum of Understanding entered between the Education First Trust and the Ministry of Education Fiji. An exemption from custom excise duty was also obtained for shipment of dictionaries to Fiji.

Our Mission: Empower Literacy
Aligned with the goals of the Education First Trust, the Dictionary in Schools Project is a beacon of hope for children in economically disadvantaged regions. The initiative began by distributing dictionaries to Class 5 students across Fiji.

Achievements
First distribution was undertaken in March 2015 covering 22 primary schools in Lautoka which were identified in consultation of the head teachers.  480 dictionaries were given of which 456 were personally handed to class five students and the remaining given to school libraries. The distribution was undertaken by a team of Education First trustees from New Zealand who travelled to Fiji for this purpose. Since inception, the project has achieved significant milestones, experienced rapidly growing demand and received overwhelming support and testimonials from teachers and school heads.

Their feedback confirms the profound positive effects on students’ academic performance and confidence.

Building on the success of the initial initiative, Education First and Rotary Club of Auckland Harbourside launched a significantly larger program. The new effort involves distributing over 1,000 dictionaries each year to numerous schools located in Fiji’s rural and interior areas. The distribution was expanded to cover students from Class 5 to Class 8, ensuring that older children also benefit from this vital educational resource.

More than 7,000 dictionaries have been distributed to remote and rural areas throughout Fiji, including Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, and some remote outer islands. This initiative has benefited over 7,000 children by enhancing their English language skill.

Why This Project Matters
In rural areas of Fiji, where internet connectivity is sparse, dictionaries serve as essential tools for learning. With these dictionaries, children gain a personal resource that fosters better education and opens doors to brighter futures. Teachers and school administrators have shared countless testimonials of the transformative impact this project has had on students’ academic performance.

Collaboration with local education stakeholders has been key. Partnerships with the Rotary Club of Auckland Harbourside, the Ministry of Education Fiji, and the educators have enabled the smooth delivery of dictionaries despite logistical challenges.

Join Us in Making a Difference
The Dictionary in Schools Project depends on supporters like you to continue transforming lives through literacy. Your contributions can help extend this initiative to more underserved schools and empower thousands of children to thrive academically.

How You Can Help:

• Donate: Every contribution helps us purchase and distribute dictionaries to more schools.
• Spread the Word: Share our mission with friends and family to raise awareness.
• Volunteer: Join us in delivering dictionaries and witnessing the joy of giving firsthand.

  Together, we can change lives one dictionary at a time.