By Jean Fairbairn | EIFL Communications Manager
“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.
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