Book Aid International has been supporting mobile libraries in Zambia since 2007. Our partners, Forum of African Women Educationalists in Zambia (FAWEZa), started the mobile library project as a direct response to the need for reading materials in secondary schools. Starting with just one mobile that serviced 12 schools, Book Aid International was then able to help FAWEZa reach 30 more schools through supplying additional books, funding for local book purchase and training for teachers. They now carry around 10,000 books to nearly 9,000 students in three mobile library vans.
The FAWEZa library service has proven to be a great success, with improvements in exam results for the students who benefitted – showing improvements of up to 10% in some subjects. These quotes from some of the students that have used the library show just what a difference having access to books can make:
The novels I read helped me to have a more imaginative and creative mind which helped me when I wrote compositions in English. My vocabulary improved greatly and now I am able to speak and understand more words in English.
I have learnt that a subject is only difficult if you don’t have enough material about it. It is only because of the physics books in the library that made it possible for me to improve in physics.
As a result, FAWEZa are keen to expand the service and Book Aid International are delighted to have sourced funding to make this possible! A new truck will be purchased and converted into a library with funding from one of our Charitable Trust supporters while funding to send books to fill the library has been provided by the Beit Trust. As an added bonus, publishing company Pearson have also offered funding which will allow all of the FAWEZa mobile libraries to be restocked more frequently. This means they can reach out to more young people and offer an even better choice of books.
We will keep you up to date on the new van which FAWEZa hope to have on the road very soon!
 |
 |
|
A FAWEZa mobile library |