NGO launches mobile community library project
The Environment of Hope Foundation (EoHope), an environment and education-centered non-governmental organisation, has launched a mobile community library project in the Berekum Municipality.
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The Asuama-Kyere Community Mobile Library Project (AKOMLIP-Ghana) aims at helping to promote the culture and reading skills of children in the municipality.
Targeting children between five and 17 years, the 39-week project further seeks to encourage teachers, parents and traditional leaders in the communities to actively get involved in the development of education in the municipality.
Under the project, being funded by the US Embassy Federal Grant, and piloted in selected communities in the municipality, trained mobile library co-coordinators and volunteers would provide library services for the target group by serving them with relevant books to read.
Distribution of books
The books, according to Nana Afia Siraa-Ababio lll, Executive Director of EoHope, will be distributed by the coordinators using bicycles, motorcycles and vans.
She was speaking at a stakeholders' meeting on Wednesday in Berekum to seek support from the participants, which comprised representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES), transport unions, the municipal assembly, the Municipal Health Directorate and the Berekum Traditional Council.
Nana Siraa-Ababio, who is also the Queenmother of Kato, a community in the municipality, said although the project was being piloted in the Berekum Municipality, plans were underway to introduce at least one community mobile library service in each district in the region over the next four years.
She noted that when children were encouraged to cultivate the reading habit in the early stages of their lives, they would not only reap and enjoy the full benefits of having command over the English language, but would also develop their creative talents and ideas.
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The Brong Ahafo Regional Librarian, Mr Frederick Noble Baada, expressed regret about the lack of a functional public library in the municipality.
He observed that since the Berekum and Jinijini community libraries became defunct for various reasons, pupils and students had had no public avenue to easily access academic materials and polish their reading skills as well.
Reading habits of pupils
Mr Baada said the reading habits of pupils and students diminished if they were unable to access library services, especially during their leisure hours, noting that many basic school graduates were relapsing into illiteracy due to lack of reading and access to books and informative materials.
He emphasised that collective support was required from the Ghana Education Service, municipal assembly, Ghana Library Board, traditional rulers and the project implementers to make it successful.
The Berekum Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Opoku Boakye-Yiadom, stressed the assembly’s readiness and commitment to support any project that would enhance the development of the municipality.
He advised the project implementers to find innovative ways of ensuring that the schoolchildren took advantage of the project to read the books.
The Paramount Chief of the Berekum Traditional Area, Daasebre Dr Nana Amankona Diawuo ll, lauded the implementers of the project and entreated key stakeholders to offer the necessary support for the achievement of its goals.
Credit: GNA