It's not like reading in a school environment. Often these kids find reading a challenge, something that's difficult and onerous, and our teens help make it a much more enjoyable experience for them.

Most of our kids are aged between 6 and 12, and just need a bit of encouragement to turn reading into an enjoyable activity. We don't need our teens to be in the Academic stream at high school, or to be intellectual over-achievers. They simply need to know how to read, and enjoy being with a younger kid for an hour a week. The time they put in counts towards the Community Service hours they need in order to graduate, so it's a classic win-win situation for any teen who enjoys reading and who's prepared to help a younger child.

By the time they meet their very own Reading Buddy, the teens are very well prepared. The hour the two spend together becomes an activity both partners really look forward to each week.

We desperately need more teens. We've currently got 21 volunteers matched up with younger kids, but there are at least 15 more children on our waiting list.

Reading really does go down in middle and high school. The amount of reading kids do in those grades just goes down. There are so many clubs and sports competing for that attention.

Kids are getting more and more reading and math and they need help. Cool School is there to make learning as enriching as possible.