Book box libraries provide primary schools with accessible, compact and portable libraries and are being used by Book Aid International to support schools in remote areas where books are particularly scarce. Following a successful pilot in Zanzibar in 2010, we secured funds to expand the ‘Library in a Box’ project to 15 primary schools in the Kagera Region of Tanzania in 2011.
Neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda, Kagera is Tanzania’s most northerly region. Overwhelmingly rural, most people earn a living through farming – bananas and coffee in the north and rain-fed annual crops such as maize and tobacco in the south.
Working in partnership with the Katoke Teachers College in the Muleba District, this project aims to support children’s literacy and learning, help promote a reading culture among children by stimulating their imagination, and develop cognitive skills and language skills through storytelling sessions. Teachers from each school attended a training workshop facilitated by Jonathan Coolidge, a locally based VSO volunteer, to learn how to use the portable library in the classroom.
The boxes themselves were made locally by students at the Viwawa Vocational School. 15 were filled with books bought locally and 15 with books from our warehouse in London. Schools received one of each and student Library Monitors are responsible for distributing books among classmates, monitoring usage and ensuring all the books are returned.
Since the workshop, Jonathan has been visiting schools to support students and teachers as they get used to their new portable libraries.
Through this project over 6,100 children across the District now have access to books, many for the first time, and are learning how to become better readers.
Neighbouring Rwanda, Uganda and Rwanda, Kagera is Tanzania’s most northerly region. Overwhelmingly rural, most people earn a living through farming; bananas and coffee in the North and rain-fed annual crops such as maize and tobacco in the South. Working in partnership with the Katoke Teachers College in the Muleba District, this project aims to support children’s literacy and learning, help promote a reading culture among children by stimulating their imagination, and develop cognitive skills and language skills through storytelling sessions. 15 primary schools in the District were chosen to participate by Mr Kajuna, the District Education Officer and two teachers from each school attended training workshop at the District’s Teachers Resource Centre to learn how to use the portable library in their schools.
The boxes themselves were made locally by students at the Viwawa Vocational School, and 15 have been filled with books purchased locally, and 15 with books provided by Book Aid International from our London warehouse. Schools received one of each and Library Monitors have been trained in each school to collect the book box, distribute books among classmates, monitor usage and ensure all books are returned at the end of every library session.
Following a successful pilot in Zanzibar in 2010, we managed to secure funds to expand the ‘Library in a Box’ scheme to 15 schools in the Kagera Region of Tanzania in 2011. Book box libraries provide primary schools with accessible, compact and portable libraries and are being used by Book Aid International to support schools in remote areas where books are particularly scarce.
Neighbouring Rwanda, Uganda and Rwanda, Kagera is Tanzania’s most northerly region. Overwhelmingly rural, most people earn a living through farming; bananas and coffee in the North and rain-fed annual crops such as maize and tobacco in the South. Working in partnership with the Katoke Teachers College in the Muleba District, this project aims to support children’s literacy and learning, help promote a reading culture among children by stimulating their imagination, and develop cognitive skills and language skills through storytelling sessions. 15 primary schools in the District were chosen to participate by Mr Kajuna, the District Education Officer and two teachers from each school attended training workshop at the District’s Teachers Resource Centre to learn how to use the portable library in their schools.
The boxes themselves were made locally by students at the Viwawa Vocational School, and 15 have been filled with books purchased locally, and 15 with books provided by Book Aid International from our London warehouse. Schools received one of each and Library Monitors have been trained in each school to collect the book box, distribute books among classmates, monitor usage and ensure all books are returned at the end of every library session.
A locally based VSO volunteer, Jonathan Coolidge, has been visiting schools to support students and teachers as they get used to their new portable libraries, offering advice where needed.
Over 6,100 children across the District now have access to library books, many for the first time, and are learning how to become better readers.
A locally based VSO volunteer, Jonathan Coolidge, has been visiting schools to support students and teachers as they get used to their new portable libraries, offering advice where needed.
Over 6,100 children across the District now have access to library books, many for the first time, and are learning how to become better readers.
