Over 290 books donated to Mayo children as part of ROAD Forward initiative
ENTERPRISE Mobility and Children’s Books Ireland have launched their third year of partnership by donating 291 books to children at seven schools in Mayo. This donation is part of a larger ROAD Forward initiative distributing 4,600 books across Ireland.
Recipient schools in Mayo include Midfield National School, Balla National School, Holy Trinity National School, Ardagh National School, Ballyvary National School, Scoil Naomh Pádraig, Currabaggan, and Castlebar Primary School.
The aim of the book gifting programme is to increase book ownership among children, enhancing literacy levels and inspiring a life-long love of reading. Additionally, the focus this year is also on supporting young readers with dyslexia, a condition affecting an estimated 1 in 10 students in Ireland.
Serena Molloy’s Wider Than the Sea was chosen for this book drive. The Galway-based author struggled with dyslexia during her formative years and now writes stories that celebrate neurodiversity.
Her book, Wider Than the Sea, features a dyslexic protagonist, enabling many young readers to see themselves reflected in the story. The book has also been designed with accessibility in mind, using larger, well-spaced font and black-and-white illustrations by George Ermos.
Author Serena expressed her gratitude, saying: “I truly believe that reading, and developing a love of reading, can change lives. The ROAD Forward initiative is such a wonderful project, and I am delighted that my book has been selected this year.”
Brendan Grieve, general manager of Enterprise Mobility in Ireland, remarked: “We are immensely proud of this book gifting programme, which has expanded significantly over three years. Every child should get the support they need to reach their full potential, and we hope this donation will spark a love of reading, and promote feelings of self-belief, inclusion and confidence. Through our partnership with Children's Books Ireland, we are investing in the future of our youth and striving to enrich the communities where we live and work.”
This project - which has gifted more than 10,000 books in Ireland to date - is funded by Enterprise Mobility's global ROAD Forward initiative. Launched in 2020, this initiative represents a €50 million commitment over five years aimed at advancing social and racial equity in communities worldwide.