Storymoja managed to raise 9 million under Start a Library Campaign. The money will be used to support the development of 30 libraries to be installed in schools throughout Kenya in 2016. Kenyans have been called upon to join in and support the initiative. One can support this initiative by logging onto www.yetu.org/startalibrary to co-author a #StoryForChela for as little as 10 shillings a word and be part of the first ever book written by a nation.
Start A Library is a Kenyan reading promotion initiative that enhances access to storybooks for children and nurtures a culture of reading for pleasure. The fundraising campaign was designed to support the development of 1000 model libraries in public primary schools. The target is to raise 30 million and this is taking place on a digital platform www.yetu.org/startalibrary and via Mpesa Paybill number 202211.
Start a Library and Partners came together to fundraise and participate in positively impacting 10 million children in Kenya who do not have access to story books. Commenting on this, the campaign Ambassador and Patron, Dr. Auma Obama said, “the journey to literacy does not stop here, and I encourage Kenyans to support the Start A Library campaign that will go on until we meet our goal of providing libraries for our children.”
Storymoja Africa founder, Muthoni Garland said, “We are thankful for the support that we have attained thus far and we will keep on pushing on with our mission to ensure we secure a greater reading culture in our nation. Start A Library will keep going forward and we would like more Kenyans and corporate to partner with us as we look at bridging the literary gap.”
The Start A Library campaign is backed by the Yetu Initiative. The Yetu Initiative is a collaboration between USAID, the Aga Khan Foundation, and other partners that empower local communities to drive the priorities and solutions that best address local development needs. Show your support by using #StoryForChela.
Two weeks ago, Muthoni Garland said,” by enhancing children’s ability to access storybooks, the kind that wets their appetite for reading, we hope that the libraries will empower over 10 million Kenyan children to increase their vocabulary, nurture creativity, improve critical thinking and reach their full potential.”
Kenya must equip children with a reading culture that will later equip the nation with the greatest weapon – education. Ideally, everything is easy but favors a prepared mind. If our students get an opportunity or given a platform where they can read, then the education system will produce knowledgeable candidates. Fortunately, Storymoja managed to raise 9 million under Start a Library Campaign that will make the dream come true.