One out of every six children lives in poverty in the United States including 2.5 million children who live in poor, isolated communities where resources are scarce. For example, in some isolated rural communities there are no libraries or after-school programs and in some areas, not even clean drinking water. Many children living in these areas read below grade level, which can ultimately leave them trapped in a cycle of poverty. Bello joined up with Today Show health commentator, and Save the Children Board Member, Dr. Judith Reichman, for a visit to our programs at two American Indian pueblo communities in New Mexico . Here, they joined children in fun, educational reading activities. For rural children, education is one of the most direct and viable pathways out of poverty. Yet rural children continue to lack the reading skills they need to be successful. Over 50 percent of rural fourth grade children read below grade level, as compared to the 38 percent national average. That is why Save the Children is working with community partners in poor, isolated rural areas across the country to help children improve their reading skills so they will want to go to school, stay in school, and succeed in school—and ultimately, in life.
Dr. Judith Reichman, also has visited our after-school programs in rural central valley of California and traveled to Ethiopia last summer and narrated a segment on the Today Show about the agency’s efforts to combat severe malnutrition and HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.
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