Duffy-styled programmes now in Pacific Islands, US and Australia

Kids on the Duffy Books in Homes programme are often told by adults about the benefits of books and reading. However, the message is well and truly brought home when they hear from other kids.

Friday, 15th August, sees 500 Duffy schools around the country inviting senior high school students to speak to their children about their love of reading, favourite books and where reading will take them once they have finished school.

Linda Vagana, general manager of Duffy Books in Homes says: “The School Leader Assembly brings together senior students, many of whom went through primary school as Duffy kids, and young students and lets the kids know that reading is not just for adults.”

Two secondary school students will visit each school and be the focus of a special assembly. Duffy Books in Homes provides each School Leader with a copy of Sir Edmund Hillary: An Extraordinary Life by Alexa Johnston.

The vision of the Duffy Books in Homes Programme is to inspire a love of books in children so they become adults who inspire a love of reading. The programme aims to do this by creating and enhancing the desire for children to read through book ownership.

Decile 1, 2 and 3 schools are eligible to join Duffy Books in Homes and all children on the programme choose their own brand new books.

Since the official launch in 1995 with 80 schools, 16,000 students and 14 sponsors, the Duffy Books in Homes programme has grown to encompass 500 schools, close to 100,000 students and 190 sponsors in 2008.

By October 1999, more than 1,000,000 books had been distributed. The 2,000,000th book milestone was reached in June 2002.

On 29th March, 2008, Duffy Books in Homes celebrated giving away its five millionth book and the programme has now inspired offshoot programmes in the Pacific Islands, Australia and the USA.