Give a Child in Africa the Gift of Reading

by EIFL

Project Report | Jan 26, 2018
'I will learn about our traditions and culture'

By Jean Fairbairn | Communications Manager

Nambi Sseppuuya mobile library arrives at school.

“I am from Igome village in Jinja district in Uganda. I am now aged 15. I started using this library when I was eight years old and it has helped me to develop my reading skills as well as writing. Now I am going to Senior Three this year, 2018.

“I am happy to hear that our library is to receive funds from EIFL to buy new story books. I will always read the interesting stories in these books and learn about our traditional proverbs, culture, and language. I will also use these books to research on different aspects of the past and then relate them to the present situations.”

Rose (not her real name) is a regular user of Nambi Sseppuuya Community Resource Centre in Buwenga sub-county in Jinja District, Uganda. With your support, we have raised about US$400 that the library will use to buy over 100 new children’s books written by local authors, in local languages.

“When I heard that we could choose the books ourselves, I was so happy,” said the librarian. “We receive books from abroad and these are very important. But we do not have many books that are locally written, in our languages, that refer to local culture and places, with local names that the children can recognize.”

In keeping with the library’s mission, which is to fight poverty and disease through education, the librarians are ordering story books that will encourage reading and build literacy skills, as well as lively, well-illustrated books about nutrition and hygiene. “The books will be read by the children and their parents,” said the delighted librarian.

This will be our last disbursement for this project. Since January 2017, your support has made it possible for public libraries serving rural communities in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda to buy 2,000 children’s books in Amharic, KiSwahili, Acholi and Ateso, as well as English. The project has achieved its goals – stocking public library shelves with new story books by local authors and giving thousands of children in the gift of reading.

Thank you for your support – from the children, their parents and the librarians.

We will not be raising funds for this project any more, but we do have another exciting project in Ghana, where we are supporting mobile public libraries to take computers and internet connections to under-resourced schools to help children pass crucial exams. The project is achieving remarkable results – find out more here! And stay in touch with EIFL through Facebook and Twitter - @EIFLnet.

The library's children's section is always busy.

Books by bike - the library arrives at a village.

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Oct 30, 2017
'I also teach my young sister how to read!'

By Jean Fairbairn | EIFL Communications Manager

Junior reader - Dzitsoni Public Library, Kenya.

“I always borrow these books for home reading. I also teach my young sister how to read because the books are easy to understand,” says Mwangata, one of many children who are enjoying the new Swahili story books bought by Dzitsoni Public Library in Kenya.

Your support has made it possible for Dzitsoni Public Library and six other public libraries in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda to stock their shelves with children’s books in local African languages. The children are loving the new books:

“The Books are written with simple language, and you can read so many stories because of their size,” said Halima.

“I have managed to learn so many new words that have helped me to write compositions,” said George.

Humphrey, librarian at Dzitsoni, says: “We have realized a tremendous increase in the number of junior readers. The teachers have confirmed improvements in the children’s reading and writing, and now want us to stock more books in Swahili.”

Agnes, librarian at Rumuruti Public Library in Kenya, reports that on 8 September over 220 children and parents took part in the library’s International Literacy Day celebration. “We have used the books well to create awareness about the importance of reading,” said Agnes.

From Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Solomon, the librarian at Kolfe Keryano library, and Tsige, the librarian at Yeka library, say that more parents than ever before have been bringing children for summer holiday reading. While the children are busy with story books, the parents enjoy the history books also bought with your support.

Moyo Public Library in northern Uganda reports that every day after school, and on Saturdays, primary school children run to the library to read the new books. Moyo librarian Christopher says the library has also lent bundles of books to a school that is just too far away for the children to run to the library. “The teachers are so happy! They are still using the books in classes,” he said.

Since January this year, EIFL has disbursed a total of US$3,030 to libraries in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda to give children the gift of reading.

Reading activity, Dzitsoni Public Library, Kenya.

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Aug 7, 2017
"Thank-you for bringing books to this library!"

By Jean Fairbairn | EIFL Communications Manager

Reading class with the new books in Dzitsoni

“I would like to thank you for bringing these books to this library. My thought is that we should keep and maintain the books properly so that even when we become older our children will find the books and they will help them.”

Lamick, a primary school pupil in the coastal village of Dzitsoni in eastern Kenya, sends you this message. His library had just received a delivery of 259 books bought with your support.

As soon as the books arrived at Dzitsoni Community Library, the librarians began taking them to primary schools and working with teachers to give the children reading practice. The books are in Kiswahili - Kenya’s national language - and English.

Rumuruti Community Library, which serves a livestock farming community in Kenya’s Rift Valley, also received 259 books. “We feel privileged to be selected for the books donation. The Kiswahili books especially will help us reach more vulnerable and economically disadvantaged children in our community,” said Agnes Karegi, librarian in charge of Rumuruti Community Library.

During school holidays, children spend most of their time in the libraries, and librarians are delighted that the books have arrived in time to enrich a programme of reading and storytelling planned for the August holidays.

Your gift of 437 books in the local languages Acholi and Ateso, and English, inspired Moyo Community Library in Northern Uganda to expand the library to include a children’s reading room. “We have already bought plastic chairs and reading tables and installed the shelves, and now we are just completing the final touches of painting and decoration,” said Moyo librarian, Christopher Muzuri.

“Before the room is open, the books are already being used. Even the parents are coming to the library to read the books with their children,” said Christopher.

Since January this year, EIFL has disbursed a total of US$3,030 to libraries in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda to buy children’s books and give children the gift of reading.

Children explore the new books in Dzitsoni library

Report-back on a new book during a reading class.

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