Yellowknife (Nov 05/04) - Six-year-old Asmara Tesfaye is riveted to her seat as her new reading buddy turns the pages of a storybook.

There are 22 other Grade 1 students at Weledeh Catholic school who are experiencing the same attraction to reading.

They are the latest instalment of participants in the Rotary Kids Ahead program, which pairs an adult volunteer with a student for half an hour a week to read or play literacy games.

Going into its seventh year, organizer Susan Huvenaars can't quite explain the program's popularity with kids and their mentors, except that they enjoy the one-on-one contact.

"They may not remember your name, but they remember that you read to them," said Huvenaars, who is a mentor herself.

As the child goes through the school year anticipating the weekly reading time, they develop a connection to their new friend, she said. "They learn that someone out there cares for them. There are definite relationships built," said Huvenaars.

Darren Gerber signed on to be a mentor because kids and family are important values for him and he was caught by the idea of instilling the importance in literacy into the minds of children. "I'm happy because he reads to me," said Asmara as she ate her lunch and helped him turn the pages.

The first kids to benefit from the reading program are now entering Grade 7 at Weledeh.

The Kids Ahead program held its kick-off luncheon at the school Nov. 2, to introduce the 26 mentors to their new buddies for the school year.