By Anthony Kushaba
apearlnews.com
PeerLink Initiative-Uganda on Tuesday distributed a total of 20000 books to 12 community libraries in Rukungiri district.
The books were handed over to the coordinators of the libraries in the district in a function held at the organization’s office in Ngarama village in Ibanda parish Nyarushanje Sub County.
Speaking at the handover of the books, Olivia Mugabirwe the executive director PeerLink Uganda initiative revealed that the community library initiative started way back in 2013 with the aim of inculcating a reading culture among children and other members of the community.
Olivia revealed that the organization currently runs 16 community libraries in the country with 12 of them Nyarushanje sub county-Rukungiri,1 in Mitooma district and three others in Kampala.
Nemetius Agaba the Rukungiri district community development officer revealed that availing reading books to the community will spur development.
He says that as the country grapples with many people who are unable to read and write, the intervention by PeerLink initiative –Uganda is time and has helped people to improve their abilities.
Ida Gumisiriza an inspector of schools in Nyarushanje says that the initiative by PeerLink Uganda is very vital since it supplements the efforts of the government in educating Ugandans.
She commended PeerLink Uganda for always coming in to ensure that the communities where they operate are transformed.
Paul Maateka the head teacher at Nyarushanje upper primary school says that the community libraries are helping the locals and children in the areas to embrace a reading culture and improve their abilities especially in answering exams since they read and get wide knowledge.
Mathius Mulumba a parent from Kicuba-Nyungu village in Ibanda parish,Nyarushanje sub county says that the establishment of community libraries in the area has helped in improving the reading culture among the children who would instead spend their free time loitering in villages.
Earlier in the day, the organization conducted training for community library volunteer coordinators and local council chairpersons where the libraries are hosted.
PeerLink Initiative activities.
Promoting Literacy through Community Based Libraries
PeerLink Initiative Uganda (PELIU) is a community-rooted children youth and women-focused Non-Governmental organization that empowers communities through the Community Library and Empowerment Center Model. PELI-U has a Coordination Office in Kawempe Division, Kampala and a Field Office in Nyarushanje Sub-county, Rukungiri District.
PELI-U contributes to provision of quality education and works to ensure that schools and teachers Integrate Information Communication Technology -ICT in teaching and learning and a culture of literacy is promoted in households, schools and communities. The organization also works to ensure that Ugandan youth and women have improved standards of living and quality of life.
According to the executive directive director, Community members live healthier and more productive lives after their intervention.
PeerLink Link Initiative Uganda (PELI-U) promotes literacy and contributes to efforts to revive a reading culture through the community library and empowerment center model. PELI-U set up the first community library Nyarushanje Community Library and Empowerment Center in 2013.
This community library is located in Nyarushanje Sub-county, Rukungiri District. Nyarushanje Community Library and Empowerment Center provides holistic services in the field of education, health and Socio-economic empowerment and entrepreneurship to Nyarushanje Subcounty community members in rural Uganda.
Through Nyarushanje Community Library and Empowerment Center PELI-U provides reading space, reading materials, provides library scholarships to primary school going children, conducts school based and community based reading outreaches, trains teachers and school administrators on importance of reading and setting up of reading spaces and facilitates household based reading activities.
It also supports the setting up of community based libraries and trains community based volunteer library coordinators on how to manage community libraries. It trains primary school teachers in digital literacy and participatory learner centered methods of teaching, and provides access to cultural artifacts and indigenous information and access to Information communication technology (ICT) tools and equipment. PELI-U organizes Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) activities, provides youth and women with vocational, technical and business enterprise development skills and sexual reproductive health/HIV/AIDS education and information to youth.
PELI-U Supports and Facilitates the setting up of Community Based Libraries
Over years PELI-U has supported the setting up of 15 Community based libraries linked to Nyarushanje Community Library and Empowerment Center.
The idea of starting more community rooted libraries originated from the desire to reach out to distant communities that could not easily access services offered by Nyarushanje Community Library and Empowerment Center. PELI-U team engaged community members in continuous dialogue sessions, sensitized them on the services offered through the library and out of the interactions community members got involved in setting up libraries in their respective communities.
The community libraries are run by a team of Community Based Volunteer Library Coordinators and are housed in spaces donated by community members. Some of these libraries are housed in community based government building, households, (health centers, schools and religious institutions).
Through the community libraries community members access readers, newspapers, subject specific curriculum text books, participate in cultural gala, interact, play and engage in children reading activities.
PeerLink Initiative Uganda (PELI-U) through Nyarushanje Community Library and Empowerment Center (NCLEC) mobilizes and procures reading materials, selects, prints and binds online readers which are later on delivered to community based libraries and households. PELI-U provides training to Community Based Volunteer Library Coordinators in library management, child safe guarding and protection policy and sexual reproductive health.
Currently PELI-U has supported the setting up of 16 functional community based libraries (12 in Nyarushanje Sub-county, Rukungiri District, 3 Kawempe Division, Kampala District and 1 in Kashenshero Town Council Mitooma District).
The organization highlights the lack of a rich supply of books in the community libraries especially readers for children, play materials, curriculum books and books written in the local language /mother tongue, Lack of book shelves, reading tables, chairs, strong secure and lockable doors and roofs, Lack of trained librarians, Lack of funds to hire and sustain trained librarians as the leading challenges for them.
