July 16, 2024
When high schooler Aliyah Majeed-Hall noticed that many of the kids in the Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) Afterschool program had minimal access to books at home, she made a plan to help them build at-home libraries.
Aliyah, an AHC volunteer, created One Word Reading Initiative to gather a set of multi-level, diverse books to distribute at AHC communities during education programs and food distributions. Research shows that access to books in the home early in life is critical for educational success and the development of lifelong critical thinking and socio-emotional skills.
“Through our partnership with AHC, One Word Reading Initiative has had the joy of promoting literacy and sharing high-quality books in English and Spanish with families and children,” Aliyah said.
At these free book fairs, kids select books from a collection of children’s literature focused on fostering literary skills and a love for reading.
Volunteer Arlington, an organization that connects people with local volunteer opportunities, awarded Aliyah the 2024 Youth Volunteer Service Award for her dedication to AHC’s young residents in Arlington. Aliyah attends The Potomac School, also a long-time AHC partner organization.
“Thank you so much to Volunteer Arlington for selecting me for this honor,” Aliyah said. “I can honestly say that working with the AHC children is truly the best part of my week.”
Aliyah’s passion for supporting young readers continues to grow. She plans to expand One Word Reading Initiative across the region.
“I’m so excited to continue this work and help inspire children to love books and reading in the years to come,” she said.