The Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh place of worship) in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA hosted a successful Summer Reading Program for the Sikh youth. The program which started in June 2024, saw participation from children as young as six months, accompanied by their parents to young adults up to 22 years from Cincinnati, Dayton, and neighboring cities.
Inspiration Behing the Program
The program was organized for the first time by coordinators Aasees Kaur and Sameep Singh Gumtala, inspired by similar reading challenges in local libraries. “Every summer, I would see my son and daughter engage in local library reading programs, logging hours and earning rewards,” shared Gumtala. “That sparked the idea to bring this initiative to our Gurdwara.”
Structure and Materials
Participants were provided with log sheets to track their reading hours, with prizes awarded based on the time spent reading. The book collection featured over 100 titles in both Punjabi and English, catering to all age groups. For the
youngest participants, the collection included coloring activity books showing Sikh faith symbols like the Ek Onkar and Khanda. Parents read books like “Fascinating Folktales of Punjab” by Gurmeet Kaur to toddlers aged 6 months to 2 years
Positive Feedback and Participation
Aasees Kaur noted the overwhelming positive feedback from parents: “We ended up with more than 40 participants, hundreds of hours logged, and many children were even seen reading books at the Gurdwara itself.”
Closing Event & Looking Ahead
The program wrapped up with a special event at an indoor recreation facility, where participants enjoyed activities like mini bowling, electric go-karts, and games, bringing a joyful end to a summer filled with learning and discovery.
This initiative not only encouraged reading among Sikh youth but also strengthened community bonds by fostering a love for literature within a cultural context. Organizers are already looking forward to making this an annual summer event.
