VTS Mobile Library Project

1. Summary

During the pilot phase, the VTS Mobile Library moved from set-up to steady delivery in Makoko. We registered 62 children, held 24 sessions despite flooding, and trained 4 local teachers who have led sessions from the second month. Out of the 20 children re-assessed, 11 showed remarkable improvement, moving up at least one reading level and 3 moved up two. This is real progress although it is below our 70% improvement target. We spent 787,000 of the 794,000 budget. Section 6 shows how we plan to ensure that the VTS Mobile Library keeps running on community resources and not on donor’s funds alone.

2. Where we started

Session 1 started on 10 March, 2026 with registration and pre-survey for the 18 children aged 5–12 who attended. They could pick out two- and three-letter words but read sentences one word at a time, slowly and without confidence. The Baale (community head) rallied children and also stayed to watch the proceedings. The school administrator also gave us a volunteer, a school liaison and a room to store books. This ensured that the VTS Mobile Library began without us paying any form of rent and the books and other materials had a safe place to stay.

3. Project Status

Participants: 62 registered; average attendance of 25 per session

Sessions: Twice weekly (Tuesday and Thursday). 24 sessions held; 3 postponed by rain and flooding, then made up

Facilitators: Project coordinator + 4 volunteers; 4 teachers trained and leading from the second month

Community support: A school gave us space, storage and liaison teachers; The Baale (community head) mobilised children and observed sessions.

Books: 125 books were made available for reading groups; a book club is being planned.

4. Learning results: 20 children were re-assessed and:

3 moved up by 2 reading levels. 8 moved up 1 reading level and 9 improved very little 

For the next phase, we will re-assess every registered child and follow up the nine with extra reading-group support.

5. Voices from Makoko

Videos show children describing what they have learnt and what they want to learn next, and photos show stronger readers helping others pronounce words. That peer support costs nothing and is central to our sustainability plan below. Click to see some pictures and videos taken during the project session.

6. Sustainability: a Library that runs on what Makoko already has

Makoko is an urban waterfront slum where most families live below the poverty line. Families cannot pay fees or fund the VTS Mobile Library. Therefore, the model buys start-up with donor money and runs on what the community already owns: space, teachers, older children, local markets and trust.

Already working (Pilot phase evidence)

• Free venue and storage: Ken Ade gives session space and a book store at no rent.
• Local leaders: 4 teachers were trained and have led sessions since the second month, so delivery no longer depends only on outside volunteers.
• Community mobilisation: the Baale himself helped us rally the children and attend some sessions.
• Local buying: snacks are sourced in the community, which lowered cost and keeps money in Makoko.
• Peer reading: stronger readers already help others pronounce words, at zero cost.
• Book stock in hand: With over 600 books received and 125 in use, there is still over 475 books in reserve. Hence there is no need for new purchase.

Five low-cost moves for the next phase (proposed)

1. Reading Buddy ladder: Each strong reader coaches two beginners and reads aloud to open each session; a child who gains a level earns a badge and becomes a buddy. Reading ability becomes the teaching workforce.
2. Flood-proof rotating book boxes: Waterproof boxes carry 25–30 books that rotate every two weeks through 3–4 clusters of homes. A parent book keeper, chosen with the Baale, records loans. Wet-day plan: short compound sessions led by buddies, and take-home reading cards, so a flood day is not a lost day.
3. Community snack pot: Refreshments are 45% of budget (360,000 of 794,000). Keep buying from local traders.
4. Teacher-to-parent ladder: Each of the 4 teachers trains 2 parents using a demonstrate, co-lead, lead approach with a one-page session card. Certificates signed by the Baale and school recognise them.
5. Story anthology: The children’s stories (target 20) become a printed and digital book that gives new local-language reading material, and doubles as a fundraising and advocacy tool.

7. Finance

We spent 787,000 of the 794,000 budget, leaving 7,000 (0.9%). Cost was about 12,700 per registered child for the quarter (roughly 4,230 a month) and about 1,310 per child per session (24 sessions at 25 children). Due to the rise of fuel, the cost of snack keeps soaring which may need to be taken into account when budgeting for the next phase.

8. Next Phase

1. Re-assess all registered children.
2. Launch Reading Buddies, the rotating book boxes and the wet-day plan.
3. Form the book club and collect the first stories toward the target of 20.
4. Train parents, and recruit more volunteers or parent facilitators to close the gap from 4 to 8.

How donors can help: There will be a need to equip the children with rain-coats, rain boots, waterproof book storage, and levelled early-reader books for ages 5–8. We wil also need sponsorship for administration and feeding for the children during the next phase of the project.

Links:

• VTS Mobile Library Report Folder