Last Friday, the sprawling green lawns of Devon House became a vibrant, story-filled gathering space as the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) hosted its much-anticipated second annual Reading Picnic, a signature community event marking Jamaica’s Reading Week. For the second consecutive year, this initiative brought 120 seven to nine-year-old Grade 3 students from across Kingston and St Catherine together for a full day of immersive learning, literary exploration, and child-centered fun.
Participating students came from four local institutions: Waterford Primary School, Bridgeport Primary School, Melrose Primary & Junior High School, and John Mills Primary & Junior High School, all arriving ready to dive into a curated lineup of activities designed to reframe reading as an adventure rather than a chore. With experienced media personality Krystal Tomlinson at the helm as host, the entire event was built around a single core mission: nurturing a lifelong, lasting passion for reading among Jamaica’s younger generation.
The day’s schedule packed a diverse range of literacy-focused activities to suit every young learner’s interests. Traditional oral storytelling sessions drew quiet, focused groups of wide-eyed children, while interactive reading competitions brought out friendly excitement and energetic engagement. The most beloved session for many attendees was the dynamic ‘Act-it-Out’ segment, where children got to step into the roles of their favorite story characters and bring narratives to life through movement and performance.
The cultural highlight of the afternoon came from the acclaimed Ashe Company, which delivered a vibrant, dynamic reimagining of beloved traditional Anancy Stories, weaving Jamaican cultural heritage into the day’s literary programming. Chloleen Daley-Muschett, assistant vice-president for public relations and corporate affairs at Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), shared that the children’s unscripted reactions to the day’s activities reinforced the value of this experiential approach to literacy promotion.
“The children’s reactions today were absolutely priceless,” Daley-Muschett noted. “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.”
Beyond the planned activities, the event leaned on personal connection to inspire young readers, with more than a dozen members of the SVL leadership team stepping forward as volunteer guest readers to work directly with small groups of students. Senior leadership joining the effort included Heather Goldson, SVF director and SVL chief marketing officer; Stefan Miller, chief executive officer of SV Gaming; and Omar Dattadeen, assistant vice-president of marketing at SVL.
To add extra excitement for the young attendees, a lineup of prominent Jamaican public figures and SVL brand ambassadors also joined the literacy drive. Professional race car driver and JustBet Ambassador Fraser McConnell, Tishauna Mullings of NexxStepp Educational Services (named SVF 2025 Community Hero), and national team netballer Adean Thomas all spent time reading one-on-one with students and joining in the day’s interactive games, making the experience feel even more special for the children in attendance.
Goldson emphasized that the SVF Reading Picnic fills a critical role in supporting Jamaican children’s long-term success. “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,” she explained. “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.”
By the time the event wrapped up, every student carried home more than just new favorite stories and warm memories of a day outdoors. Full from picnic refreshments and gifted custom goodie bags full of reading-related treats, the children departed after a day that successfully merged literary education with playful, interactive community engagement. The event once again demonstrated how experiential, community-led programming can deliver the critical message of literacy empowerment in a supportive, fun, and unforgettable environment that resonates with young learners.