KINGSTON, Jamaica – Boosting literacy and youth development was the focus of KFC’s partnership with the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) for this year’s ‘Read Across Jamaica’ initiative.

“KFC’s support enhanced this year’s events by encouraging good reading habits, eagerly engaging with students and complimenting the events with finger lickin’ good KFC treats,” the fast-food restaurant said in a press release on Friday.

“Read Across Jamaica is an impactful initiative that is geared towards improved literacy among our youths. We believe it ought to have increased acknowledgement and it is for this reason that we partnered with the Jamaica Library Service. They have consistently promoted the initiative and we are more than happy to have gotten an opportunity to play our part in engaging with as many students in a fun and exciting way”, shared Restaurants of Jamaica brand manager, Andrei Roper.

KFC attended the first Read Across Jamaica event at Kingston and St Andrew Parish Library to support the Bob Marley Foundation and the Jamaica Alumnae Chapter to encourage young children to read more.

The event ended with all participating students receiving KFC meal vouchers while engaging in an exciting trivia session.

The team then visited North Street Primary School to join forces with Ministry of Education Region 1 Literacy Unit to read a series of short stories and poems, but not neglecting to close the event with a much anticipated KFC trivia session where students got a chance to answer a wide range of questions, to win KFC meal vouchers.

“We certainly appreciate KFC coming on board to partner with us. They fitted in so well at this year’s events. From the very moment the students were made aware that the KFC team was present, they were even more excited and engaged”, JLS director for School Library Network, Patsy Gordon.

“The partnership with Restaurants of Jamaica really elevated this year’s events. It brings us great joy to know that as a corporate company, they are cognisant that reading is important during a child’s early life and they are willing to extend their support to boost literacy. We appreciate the partnership and the synergy of it that would have created a nice atmosphere for the events” added Gordon.

‘Read Across Jamaica’ was initiated in 2023 by Ja’nice Wisdom to promote literacy across the island and support VISION 2030 literacy goals set by the Ministry of Education. Since its introduction in St Elizabeth, over two decades later, the foundation has grown, and the initiative has made an islandwide impact.

“I’m truly happy we got the chance to engage in this partnership with JLS and I can proudly say it has been a successful one. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved in promoting a culture of reading among our young people and we certainly look forward to more partnerships like this in the future”, affirmed Roper.