Ngororero: How Community Library encouraged the culture of reading among children

By Elias Hakizimana.

Early reading culture can play a significant role in improving children’s vocabulary, boost their competencies in class as well as helping them to improve cognitive skills and help along the process of cognitive development.

In Ngororero District, many children are improving their reading, thanks to the initiative by USAID-Save the Children’ project to support community libraries countrywide including the one of Kabaya youth friendly center in Ngororero district, Western province.

On October 14, 2021, Save the Children, in collaboration with Agati Library, held the event of celebrating achievements of new community libraries’; established in collaboration with National Itorero Commission, Kigali Public Library, and district leadership.

The event which was in line with the national literacy month is currently celebrated in September every year. This year’s national literacy month was themed: “Everyone reading, every day, everywhere: Access and use print and digital books”.

The function brought together USAID officials, Ngororero officials, National Itorero Commission, Kigali Public Library, UMUHUZA and Save the Children’s representatives, local officials, parents, children, and Community Education Workers who support literacy promotion in the Kabaya sector, in Ngororero District.

It reflects the tremendous achievement and contribution of the newly established community libraries to promote the culture of reading in the community.

According to testimonies of youth volunteers and parents, children have improved their reading skills and can now read for parents after class and the community library helps them to access to the books.

Augustin Bizazambizi, a youth volunteer who is among the people who assist children to read through ‘Ngusomere Nisomera’ initiative said that children managed to increase their level of reading since they are helped by adults to adapt to that culture.

Pierre Nzabonimpa, the representative of parents whose children access the library of Kabaya youth center thanked Save the Children to introduce and support the initiative.

“In fact we thank the Government of Rwanda to strive for Rwandans’ development in partnership with other partners, today we are happy to celebrate the national literacy month which encourages people to read for children, thanks to Save the Children to avail reading materials. We have got many achievements in helping our children to read and give them time for reading. Reading at the maximum helps our children to know Kinyarwanda as a mother language.” Nzabonimpa said.

Experts say that “introducing reading into your young child’s life, and the conversations that it will prompt, helps them to make sense of their own lives, especially at a young age.”

According to Patrick Musafiri, Education Coordinator at Save the Children-Rwanda, there are various outstanding achievements to celebrate in cultivating the culture of reading among children.

“Since September this year, we have been celebrating the national literacy month, today we celebrate the achievements in reading for our children and we can see significant improvements in helping both children and parents to read. We have managed to introduce digital tools in reading for children like tablets and computers, this is the first step and we need to advance.” Musafiri said.

While the volunteers and library coordinators raise an issue of a reading room which is too small to host many children, lack of books that comply with children’s age levels as well as lack of a permanent worker/volunteer to open the library every day, Musafiri said that Save the Children will continue discussions with the government and the private sector to look for sustainable solutions and ensure that all children and parents have effective access to reading materials.

Francoise Tuyishime, Coordinator of Reading in Kigali Public Library (KPL) said that they plan to work with children book publishers to avail many books to the community libraries at different children’s age levels.

“We want to retrieve our culture that boots reading in Kinyarwanda. We work with publishers to ensure that there is no age and knowledge limit while children are accessing community libraries. We will also work with the Government and the private sector to avail many books that teach citizens on daily life perspectives such as best Agriculture practices, Environment protection, etc.”  

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