Press Release

Reading Across Continents- Connecting Students and Teachers around the World via Technology and Literature

WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 5, 2008.  A barrier-breaking reading partnership between U.S. and African high schools debuts on September 8th. Students from a Washington, D.C. high school and high schools in Abuja, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana will share understandings of three novels via the Internet, teleconferencing, and author visits. International Reading Association (IRA) and others developed the cultural exchange project “Reading Across Continents” with funding from the United States Department of State.

“IRA is very excited about this opportunity to support authors, teachers, and students as they learn about their world through literature and technology. We hope that many other communities around the globe will replicate this project,” notes IRA’s Executive Director Alan E. Farstrup.

Author Sharon M. Draper, whose book Copper Sun will be among the three books read by the students — will kick-off the project at 10 a.m. at IRA’s celebration of International Literacy Day on September 8th at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Library in Washington, D.C.

"I'm so excited to be a part of this touchstone project. It will break cultural, social, and historical barriers and will lead to greater international understanding," Draper said. "That's a bold prediction, but that's what great books can do! I'm a fervent believer in the power of literature.”

Students will compare cultures described in Copper Sun (detailing slave trade) by U.S. author Draper, winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award; Purple Hibiscus (describing current Nigerian culture) by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, winner of the Orange Prize; and a book by critically acclaimed Ghanaian author Ama Ata Aidoo.

Participants invite other schools and communities across the world to emulate this project and to attend the September 8th event in Washington, D.C. (RSVP required to irawash@reading.org)

For additional information contact mocha@readingacrosscontinents.com

Project website: www.readingacrosscontinents.com; IRA website: www.reading.org