By Irene Gaitirira
Published June 20, 2017
Book Aid International of Britain is providing brand new books to communities in Rwanda.
Britain’s leading international book-donation and library-development charity says it has on June 20, 2017 sent 31801 books to support readers in libraries,
schools and further education institutions across the central African country.
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“The lack of a national library service in Rwanda means that many communities are unable to access the life-changing opportunities books offer, such as developing skills, starting businesses and enabling lifelong learning,” Book Aid International says. “The books we are sending will support some of Rwanda’s many volunteer-run community libraries. These are almost always managed by members of the local community who have often taken it upon themselves to create a library in their area. These libraries serve the whole community and particularly those who cannot access traditional learning opportunities.”
“Having visited Rwanda myself and met some of the volunteers who give up their time to run community libraries, I am delighted that we are now working in partnership with the Kigali Public Library to provide brand new books for the users of the community libraries,” says Alison Tweed, Book Aid International’s Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to the generosity of our partners in the book trade, we can provide brand new books to libraries, schools and further education institutions throughout the country; books which will undoubtedly be a huge boost for readers across Rwanda.”
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This initial shipment to Rwanda included early learning and children’s books, higher education texts and medical and healthcare books as well as titles covering technical and vocational skills to support further education.
Saying that it “works with an extensive network of libraries, schools, hospitals, NGOs and other partners to ensure that the books it sends reach those who are most in need,” the charity says it “ships around one million books to thousands of libraries in communities where people have very few opportunities to
access books” every year. It further says it runs “library development projects which build the capacity of librarians to support readers and communities.”
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