Literacy Is Freedom — One Child at a Time

Did you know that 85% of youth in the juvenile justice system cannot read or read below grade level? Or that 70% of people living in poverty lack basic literacy skills—and worse, 74% of their children are already struggling to read?

This is not just a statistic. It’s a warning. A cycle that, without intervention, continues from one generation to the next.

But what if we could change that?

At RISE Augusta, we believe we can—and we do, every day. Because behind every number is a child with dreams. A child like Maria.

Maria’s Story: From Invisible to Unstoppable

At just seven years old, Maria sat quietly in the back of her second-grade classroom, too embarrassed to speak. Reading felt like a mountain she couldn't climb. Classmates teased her. She stopped trying. She began to believe she was dumb.

Then, something changed.

Maria’s teacher referred her to RISE Augusta. That’s when Maria met her tutor—a caring adult who saw her potential, not her struggles. For two hours each week, they worked together on reading. Not with pressure. Not with shame. Just with focus, patience, progress, and praise for every step forward.

There were setbacks. There were tough days. But by spring, Maria was reading full sentences on her own. Her confidence bloomed. She began raising her hand in class. She made friends. She even earned the “Most Improved Reader” award.

Her mother was so proud, she came to the RISE office just to thank the tutor in person. And Maria? She now loves school, talks about becoming a teacher, and walks into the classroom every day believing she can do anything.

This is what happens when we invest in children.
This is what happens when a community rises—together.