Vodafone Warriors Teach Auckland Kids Reading is Cool

While the Vodafone Warriors are better known for reading the tactics of their rivals on the field to work their way up the National Rugby League (NRL) ladder, their latest endeavour off the field is inspiring young Aucklanders to get into reading.

The club has launched the second annual Rugby League Reads (RLR) programme in partnership with corporate sponsor Konica Minolta.

Following the successful trial of the RLR programme with two Auckland schools in 2008, the Vodafone Warriors are giving all year four and five students in the Auckland region (370 schools in total) the chance to read with their rugby league heroes.

The RLR initiative aims to help show kids that ‘reading is cool’ and improve the literacy levels of seven to nine year olds, encouraging them to learn the valuable life skills of reading and writing at an age where reading can become difficult.

“It is vital for professional sports people to have a wider perspective on life,” says senior Vodafone Warriors player Micheal Luck. “Players need to have more in their lives than simply training and playing. We all need balance and these programmes that help our young people are a great opportunity to make a difference. Helping kids with literacy and encouraging them to enjoy reading is a really positive way to go.”

For a chance to read with the rugby league stars, children need to get their creative juices flowing by writing a short story or poem incorporating their favourite Vodafone Warriors player. The best classroom entries will be judged by Konica Minolta as well as winger and Vodafone Warriors One Community Ambassador Manu Vatuvei with the top eight winning schools invited to meet some of the Vodafone Warriors at four special local library visits in August.

While the players are visiting the library, they will work with children to complete four literary activities, two of them centered on New Zealand books Papa’s Donuts by author Kate Moetaua and Henry & the Flea by author Brian Faulkner, a story about a young boy who dreams of one day playing for the Vodafone Warriors. Each child from the winning schools participating in the library visit will receive a free copy of one of these books to take home.

The eight selected schools will also receive two Canterbury of New Zealand rugby league balls and the student with the best overall story or poem will receive a signed 2009 Vodafone Warriors rugby league jersey.

“We’re delighted to be able to support such a practical initiative and help to give year four and five kids throughout Auckland a chance to be involved,” says Konica Minolta national marketing manager Josh Byers. “If the Vodafone Warriors say reading is cool that means a lot in the minds of their young fans and we hope it will really inspire them to put pen to paper and encourage them to get stuck into a good book.”

Konica Minolta plan to publish the collection of short stories and poems about the Vodafone Warriors after the competition to present back to the schools involved.

Schools can receive entry details by contacting Sonya Mills on 09 356 6897 or email sonya.mills@konicaminolta.co.nz. Completed entry forms and the short stories and poems from year 4 and 5 classrooms in the Auckland region can be sent to: Rugby League Reads Programme, Konica Minolta, Private Bag 92635 Symonds Street, Auckland. One entry form per classroom (unlimited student entries permitted per class). Entries close on Friday 26 June. The 8 winning schools will be notified by 1 July.

Visit www.warriors.co.nz for more information.