In the scenic Burera District of Rwanda's Western Province, amidst rolling hills and vibrant communities, something extraordinary took place on July 29, 2023—the Umuganda Literacy Event at the Bungwe Community Library.
This quarterly initiative, orchestrated by eKitabu, gathered a diverse number of participants, including children aged 3-12, parents, caregivers, librarians, local authorities, and prominent figures in education. A notable highlight of this program was the robust and collaborative effort among various stakeholders in a child's learning journey. We witnessed heightened awareness and a substantial turnout, with over 1000 participants, including parents, caregivers, sector leaders, and librarians who came together to support the children.
"A tree is bent while it is still young. When it comes to parents and caregivers, it is our responsibility to commence reading to our children as early as when they are in the womb, so they become proficient readers in the future." Mr. Emmanuel Kwizera, Sector Executive, Bungwe Sector in Burera District.
The goal of the Umuganda Literacy program is to heighten community awareness regarding inclusive literacy activities, bolster knowledge of available reading resources, and ensure active engagement of children with and without disabilities while facilitating easy access to reading resources with the backing of caregivers, parents, and the community. eKitabu has exhibited its commitment to Rwandan learners and libraries like the Bungwe Community Library by distributing Kinyarwanda storybooks adapted into Rwanda Sign Language (RSL).
We also train parents to actively participate in their child's education. This includes guiding them in purchasing books for their children, offering financial support for book purchases, encouraging children to visit libraries, and even assisting in retrieving books from the library on their behalf and enrolling them in literacy events like this one.
“We are thankful to eKitabu for coming through to our village with a literacy-promoting event. Bravo to the kids who were active in reading, dancing, and singing to my fellow parents.” Twizerimana Clementine, a parent shared her remarks.
One observation we made is that librarians often hold onto these valuable literary works that are good for children, restricting access to them, and believing they are preserving them for future generations. Nevertheless, it has been observed that this practice hinders children's ability to reach library books. Therefore, the Umuganda Literacy program has not only emerged as a fundamental initiative to involve children in reading but also as a chance for librarians to receive vital training in helping children access and utilize digital content and other reading resources.
“Thank you Bungwe Community Library for the good collaboration of the leadership that resulted in a huge turnup of all children and parents/caregivers. Our main purpose is to see all children actively engaged and enjoying the good and accessible reading resources at the community library.” Catering Kikinda, eKitabu Programs Coordinator. eKitabu programs Coordinator Catherine Kukunda.
With each Umuganda Literacy event, we inch closer to a brighter future for Rwanda's young generation. Looking forward, eKitabu intends to enhance its support for community libraries and raise their visibility in the community. This entails training on the utilization and upkeep of digital devices and the potential donation of books or gifts to actively participating children. We believe that when individuals possess boundless awareness of the treasures housed within libraries, it becomes simpler for us as a community to collectively bolster a child's education.
The next Umuganda Literacy Program is slated for the end of October 2023, with specific details yet to be determined. We extend an invitation to everyone to join us in this noble endeavor to empower communities through literacy.
We also train parents on actively participating in their child's education. This includes guiding them on purchasing books for their children, offering financial support for book purchases, encouraging children to visit libraries, and even assisting in retrieving books from the library on their behalf and enrolling them to literacy events like this one.
Although no deaf or visually impaired children attended this event, despite invitations from all collaborators and hopes that they would join, we did observe a notable presence of children with disabilities among the participants. The dedication of caregivers in bringing children with disabilities was truly heartwarming, and the presence of nearby sector education officers highlighted the growing collaboration between different sectors.
With each event, we inch closer to a brighter future for Rwanda's young generation. Looking forward, eKitabu intends to enhance its support for community libraries and raise their visibility in the community. This entails training on the utilization and upkeep of digital devices and the potential donation of books or gifts to actively participating children. We believe that when individuals possess boundless awareness of the treasures housed within libraries, it becomes simpler for us as a community to collectively bolster a child's education.
The next Umuganda Literacy Program is slated for the end of October 2023, with specific details yet to be determined. We extend an invitation to everyone to join us in this noble endeavor to empower communities through literacy.