Most children in the developing world have restricted access to literacy. Few have regular experience of reading for pleasure. UKLA is determined to play a part in changing this.
The underlying aim of Project Connect is to help spread an engaged, committed, and critical literacy in the developing world. Project Connect works to:
- improve access to books in the language of primary literacy instruction
- fund the purchase of locally written texts that are culturally appropriate
- help teachers develop productive ways of working with books
We currently support two projects: The Donkey Library in Ethiopia, and books for school libraries in Zanzibar through the auspices of the Tanzanian Children’s Book Project based in Dar-es-Salaam. Both projects have direct links with members of UKLA.
The Donkey Library
The Donkey Library, run through the auspices of Together We Learn (TWL), works with schools in rural areas that do not have their own libraries.
www.twlethiopia.org/our-projects/donkey-library
Our support enables TWL to add to the library’s stock, providing books in Amharic for children to borrow and enjoy. The arrival of the donkey in rural villages brings out not just the children!
Children’s Books for Zanzibar
Children learn to read in Kiswahili, the home language of most children and the medium of instruction in Primary School. Zanzibar’s teachers are keenly aware of children’s need to read for pleasure as well as formal study, but most of them simply do not have the books.
The Tanzanian Children’s Book Project seeks to develop a strong reading culture through the provision of high-quality reading materials in Kiswahili.
The success of Project Connect in changing the reading culture in the schools involved owed much to the devoted and skillful work of the late Ramla Kindy, a local primary inspector and Salum Abdalla, a primary teacher in one of the participating schools. Schools were nominated via them, and Salum continues to monitor their use of books. He provides the photographs and regular updates on the project and travels to Dar-es-Salaam to collect new titles.
How can I help?
Bring and buy bookstalls at regional conferences:
If you attend a UKLA conference, you will find a Project Connect Books for Africa bring and buy bookstall. Attendees are encouraged to bring along a book donation and buy something from the stall. We are looking for donations of novels, up-to date professional books on literacy and literacy teaching, and good quality children’s books to sell on these stalls.
School Fundraising :
We encourage schools to take part in activities and events to raise money for the Project. Sponsored ‘Keep fit’ sessions, lunch time school discos, wet sponge throwing contests and big breakfasts (involving parents and grandparents) are all examples of successful fund raisers for Project Connect.
Fundraising in HE:
Similarly, events and activities that raise funds in higher education settings are encouraged by the Project. From one-off donations in buckets, to longer schemes of charity events, all past efforts have proven very effective.
Please contact the administration staff via admin@ukla.org if you or your place of work would like to become involved.