Wells International Foundation could not have more passion for the subject of literacy!

Our founder, Dr. Monique Y. Wells, is a veterinarian and a world traveler because of books that she read before the age of eight.  She is living proof of the power of reading to open a child’s mind to the infinite possibilities available in this world.

When we launched our Literacy Strategic Focus Area (SFA), we focused on early readers in Kindergarten and Grade 1, as well as early transitional readers in Grades 2 and 3 who are moving from picture books and simple texts toward more independent reading. Our emphasis has been on serving children of African descent and ensuring that they can see themselves in the books they read.

Through our Reading Never Stops project, we provide opportunities for these students to:

• Learn to love reading
• Encounter role models in books that reflect their race and gender
• Explore topics that can spark interest in travel and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).

Our literacy work also includes donating books to schools and youth-serving organizations that extend our reach from Houston to communities across the continental United States.

With the launch of our Youth Veterinarian Initiative Book Club and Merit Badge program, we combined our STEAM Education and Literacy SFAs and expanded our target population to include middle school students in grades 5-8.

Youth who participates in this program read 6-12 books over the course of the academic year and earned merit badges based on their active participation.

Through these projects, WIF provides books and materials that help young people find confidence in and validate their identities so they can see both themselves and their possibilities more clearly.