EWADRI RECEIVES COMMUNITY LIBRARY FOLLOWING A DONATION OF BOOKS

A display of book samples during the launch of the community library at Our Lady and John Nursery and Primary school. (PHOTO by Erema George)

Erema George

Arua City

Hatma Creative Initiative, a legally registered social enterprise, dedicated to promoting early childhood literacy and driving social cohesion has donated a number of books at our Lady and John nursery and primary school in Ewadri ward, Ayivu division in Arua City to start a community library at the school.

The library was officially launched on the June 25, at the school by Drani Ronald Bilea, the senior Education Officer for Ayivu division; “By the virtue of authority entrusted in me by this institution as the chief guest to launch this community library here in arua city, in Ewadri, I now officially have these books launched. For God and my country, it must improve our reading, our writing and our performance at all levels even at home.” Bilea stated while launching.

Stakeholders posed for a group photo after the launch with their favorite books. (PHOTO by Erema George)

Bilea noted that the donation is part of efforts to address the long standing challenge of reading and writing in the city;

“Addressing the issue of reading and writing is at the heart of Arua city for now, and you have done it, we want to thank you very much and we’re praying that you should get more partners to support in this cause. My advice is that next time you should donate for a government school. There are many schools but one plus one makes a bundle.”

The senior Education Officer for Ayivu division; Drani Ronald Bilea speaking at the launch of the library at the school. (PHOTO by Erema George)

Destiny Gladys Chaiga, the founder and team leader Hatma Creative Initiative hopes that this can influence the city to establish more community libraries;

“Looking into these books, yes some of them are for children, but also we have novels, we also have some books for administration really, maybe someone in leadership will want to learn, there are some copies on improving school systems, so we do not want to say they are only for the little ones but as a way of starting off something” Chaiga noted.

“My hope is that maybe in less than five years, the district will say let us have a structure somewhere as a community library” She urged.

Destiny Gladys Chaiga, the founder and team leader Hatma Creative Initiative speaking at the launch.

Equally, Grace Atibuni the Director of Our Lady and John nursery and primary school noted that; “Education requires a lot of reading, in literacy reading is very important especially capturing very young minds like this to put interest in studies. Out of a hundred children that you introduce to reading at an early age, there may be 20 and 30 who may still pick that interest and continue with it. To introduce children to reading at a later stage is very difficult to learn, so I’m very grateful to our daughter here who came with these books and said I must give to schools.”

Grace Atibuni the Director of Our Lady and John nursery and primary school.

The female councilor representing Ayivu North, Annet Faida appreciated the initiative; “I really appreciate you from the bottom of my heart for what you people have done to the community of Ewadri. This one will not only benefit the pupils who are here, it includes the schools, the pupils who are studying within even Ewadri, Ojipaku. We are going to announce in churches and many children will have opportunity to access the library.” Faida noted.

Community libraries in Uganda are grassroots information hubs that provide free or low-cost access to reading materials, internet facilities, and educational support.