Pakistan School Library Mural
Pakistan School Library Mural
Isa Town, Bahrain
In February, 2011, the Pakistan Women’s Association, invited me to create a mural for the library at the Pakistan School in Bahrain. They had developed a wonderful English language reading program called “Reading Rocks” for the sons and daughters of the many migrant Pakistani workers in Bahrain. For these students, especially the girls, education and especially speaking and reading English, is a passport out of a life of hardship and poverty. I have the deepest respect for the volunteer work these Pakistani women do every week and their vision.
Working with my dear Pakistani friend Rehana Gardiner, 4 A-level girls from the next door St. Christophers International School, and older girl students from the Pakistan School, we asked all the children in the “Reading Rocks” program what their favourite books were. Then we photocopied their pages and covers, painted them green and made hundreds of leaves… and a reading tree grew in the library.
Every child and volunteer in the program added a hand print for the grass, and we had a garden or alphabet flowers.
We took our theme from Dr. Seuss…
"Today you are you!
That is truer than true.
There is no one alive
who is you-er than you!"
The more you read,
the more you know.
The more you know
the smarter you grow.
The smarter you grow,
the stronger your voice,
when speaking your mind
or making your choice.