The City of Bulawayo has launched the Open Doors Children’s Corners at five Municipal Libraries in a bid to ensure access to information for children at an early age and assist them in developing lifelong literacy skills.
The project which is a partnershipwith Book Aid International Edward NdlovuMemorial Trust and the City of Bulawayo will cover five Municipal Libraries, which include Nketa, Tshabalala, Nkulumane,Pumula and Njube.
Speaking at the launch, the Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo highlighted that the Children’s Corners aimed at inspiring young readers through the provision of quality children’s books and others relevant materials.
“ODCC’s aim is to inspire young readers by providing quality children’s books and other materials which will equip children with lifelong learning and literacy skills to enable them to participate and contribute to the community,” he said.
The Mayor acknowledged the assistance the City had received from the Edward Ndlovu Memorial Trust who attended the initial meeting on the Open Door Children’s Corners in Kenya, leading to the facilitation of the project in Bulawayo.
He added that the City of Bulawayo was going to work with the partners in establishing Children’s Corners to provide conducive environments for children to read, play and learn. He noted that to ensure that children enjoy their times at the libraries, the corners would transform libraries into vibrant and colourful places.
Speaking at the same event, the Book Aid International Head of Communications Jessica, Faulkner highlighted that the organisation had a long standing partnership with Bulawayo. She added that the organisation had created 60 children’s corners in 7 countries which had benefitted from the project.
The project will see the donation of 2500 high quality English language books per library for all children from babies to teens, include a grant of one thousand pounds perparticipating library to refurbish a section to create a child friendly environment with appropriate furniture and other resources such as games and posters.
The project would also capacitate librarians and school teachers and provide a grant of seven hundred and twenty five pounds for purchasing locally written and published books in a bid to enhance local knowledge, language and culture.
Date: Monday, 06 June 2016
