BIC concludes the 3rd edition of its pen handwriting initiative in primary schools

BIC celebrated the conclusion of the third edition of the My Words, My Story, My BIC Pen handwriting initiative.

BIC is the world’s leading stationery manufacturing company and has advocated for students to develop a passion for handwriting for over 70 years.

The celebratory event took place at the Racecourse Primary School in Pangani, Nairobi. The creative writing program assists students in enhancing their handwriting abilities and transitioning from graphite pencils to ballpoint pens.

My Words, My Story, My BIC Pen was created in response to a finding that poor handwriting often attracts a negative stigma, which can adversely affect a child's growth and development in the writing space.

This year's celebration marked the successful completion of a 26-day course in 30 Kenyan primary schools, with over 10,000 students and teachers participating.

Participating students wrote a creative story using BIC pens to become more accustomed to the feel and motion of a ballpoint pen. Students then presented their stories to their teachers, parents, and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in Kenya.

To commemorate the program, students received a special BIC Pen License presented to them by their teachers.

Marketing Manager at BIC Salome Ngugi highlighted the aim of the initiative during its launch three years ago.

She stated that the goal was to provide each child with a pen and improve the quality of their educationand expressed her gratitude towards the persistent and dedicated team of teachers and partners who have helped in the program's success.

"When we first launched this initiative three years ago, our aim was to put a pen in each child's hand and to enhance the quality of their education. Today, and following the success we've seen with over 100 primary schools over the past few years, we hope to expand the program further and make it nationwide, in collaboration with the persistent and dedicated team of teachers and partners," Ngugi said.

BIC provided teachers with training courses throughout the year to help them manage and execute the program in the selected schools. BIC has also provided the teachers and the schools with the necessary writing tools and materials to run the program effectively.

The teacher in charge of the program at Racecourse Primary School Ruth Wangu praised the partnership with BIC and expressed her excitement and appreciation for the program.

She emphasized the benefits of improving students' handwriting for both students and teachers. Wangu expressed appreciation for BIC's program and the tools and books provided to enhance students' learning experience.

"It has been a very exciting and positive experience. Students usually begin handwriting using pens in grade six, but we started engaging them from grade four with the program, and it's been successful. As a teacher, being able to read students' handwriting is invaluable, and it enhances the overall learning experience for both students and teachers. We are appreciative of the program BIC is running across schools as well as the writing tools and books distributed to students, which improve the students' learning experience," Wangu said.

Ann Gitiiri, a nine-year-old in grade four at Racecourse Primary School said the use of BIC pen has improved her handwirting skills and enabled her to learn new things.

"Using the BIC pen has allowed me to learn many new things and has helped me improve my handwriting."

Ten-year-old Asma Mohammed, a grade five student, stated, "I felt appreciated when I received the certificate. I was shown ways on how to write neatly, and my handwriting has improved," Asma said.

Another ten-year-old student who participated from the Special Needs department at Racecourse Primary School learning through sign language known as Isaac Wangai was ecstatic to receive his certificate.

Wangai expressed his pleasure in learing to write using BIC pen and the improvement of his handwriting.

"We have all worked really hard in the past weeks. I am pleased to have learned to write using a pen and to see my handwriting become much better than it previously was."

My Words, My Story, My BIC Pen is in its third edition. The initiative stems from BIC's commitment to improve learning conditions for 250 million students by the year 2025. To date, the initiative has reached 35,000 students.

By the end of 2022, the global total for the company was 187 million cumulative. This education commitment is one of the five commitments made by BIC as part of the Writing the Future Together sustainable development program launched by BIC in 2018.