“Tek Time fi Read” Book Festival to distribute more than 10,000 free books

By Zoila Palma:  Belmopan youth are preparing to distribute more than 10,000 free books to children and teenagers during the fifth annual “Tek Time fi Read” Book Festival, scheduled for Saturday, August 8, at the Belmopan Civic Center.

The literacy celebration, organized by the youth-led Tek Time fi Read Project, will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and aims to encourage a lifelong love of reading among Belizean children.

Children and teens ages 0 to 18 will participate in interactive, reading-focused games to earn points that can be exchanged for new and gently used books.

Children who attend dressed as their favorite book characters will also have an opportunity to receive bonus book prizes, while teachers can select up to 25 free books for their classrooms.

The festival will also feature a book exchange and sale, a local author table, a food court and other activities for families.

The initiative, established in 2018 by participants in the Belmopan Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, has since brought more than 57,000 books into Belize, installed public Book Boxes, renovated libraries and conducted literacy outreach across the country.

More than 50 Belmopan youth volunteers between the ages of 11 and 30 are involved in organizing the event.

Admission to the festival is free, with children, parents and educators encouraged to attend.

Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge is returning as the event’s main financial sponsor, while Books for Development and community donors are providing major book contributions.

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