Turning pages into play

THE lawns of Devon House were transformed into a literary wonderland as the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) hosted its Reading Picnic last Friday.

Held as a Reading Week activation for the second consecutive year, the event treated 120 Grade 3 students, aged seven to nine years old, to an immersive day dedicated to literature, learning, and fun.

The event welcomed primary school students from Kingston and St Catherine with the participating institutions including Waterford Primary School, Bridgeport Primary School, Melrose Primary & Junior High School, and John Mills Primary & Junior High School.

Hosted by media personality Krystal Tomlinson, the programme was designed to foster a lifelong love of reading in Jamaica’s children.

Throughout the day, students were engaged in a variety of literacy-promoting activities, which included traditional story-telling, interactive reading competitions, and energetic ‘Act-it-Out’ sessions.

The cultural highlight of the afternoon was an interpretation of traditional Anancy Stories, brought to life by the Ashe Company.

Chloleen Daley-Muschett, assistant vice-president public relations and corporate affairs at Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), noted how much the children enjoyed the experience,

“The children’s reactions today were absolutely priceless. Watching their eyes light up during the Anancy storytelling sessions, and seeing the sheer joy they brought to Act-it-Out, was a powerful reminder of what happens when you make reading an experience rather than an exercise,” said Daley-Muschett,

To inspire the young minds, several members of the SVL team volunteered to participate and engage directly with the students as guest readers. Among this line-up were Heather Goldson, director, SVF and chief marketing officer, SVL; Stefan Miller, chief executive officer, SV Gaming; and Omar Dattadeen, assistant vice-president, marketing at SVL.

Adding star power and further excitement to the literacy drive were notable SVL ambassadors and sports personalities. Professional race car driver and JustBet Ambassador Fraser McConnell; NexxStepp Educational Services’ Tishauna Mullings — the SVF 2025 Community Hero; and national netballer Adean Thomas who all spent time reading to the children and participating in the interactive games.

“Literacy is the foundation upon which every Jamaican child’s future is built, and at Supreme Ventures Foundation, we believe that when a child falls in love with reading, we unlock a door to possibility that can never be closed. The SVF Reading Picnic was designed not just to promote literacy, but to show these children that reading can be an incredibly fun and interactive experience,” shared Goldson.

At the close of the day, the students departed with full tummies, fond memories, newly discovered stories, and special goodie bags to take home as the SVF Reading Picnic successfully merged the joy of literature with interactive play, ensuring that the critical message of literacy was delivered in a memorable, fun-filled, and highly supportive environment.

Heather Goldson, director, Supreme Ventures Foundation and chief marketing officer, SVL, captivates a group of Grade 3 students with a story during the SVF Reading Picnic.

Chloleen Daley-Muschett (left), assistant vice-president public relations and corporate affairs at Supreme Ventures Limited (left), providing special one-on-one time to Malachi Brooks, while Tishauna Mullings (second right), the SVF 2025 Community Hero from NexxStepp Educational Services, share a reading session with Natalia Frater. The two students from Melrose Primary & Junior High School enjoyed the special one-on-one time during the SVF Reading Picnic