Dear friends of Lubuto,
This seems to be the question on everyone’s minds as countries around the world enact measures to slow and eventually defeat the COVID-19 pandemic – and, especially, to keep children and their families safe. In these difficult times, I thought you would like to know how we are responding to this challenge.
The physical buildings of the Lubuto Model Library in Lusaka closed on 18th March. Schools were all closed as well, and the library closing would turn away large numbers of young people who are not in school in addition to those who do attend school – children who come to the library every chance they get. In normal times the library averages 2,500 visits a week! What will they do, and, perhaps most urgently, how will they learn to be safe and keep their families safe from disease as well?
Fortunately, Lubuto Libraries have large outdoor spaces—conducive to small group social distancing – that do not have to close! It didn’t take long for our resourceful, caring and creative staff to figure out how to teach children to be safe, following public health guidance, in fun and joyful ways inspired by the children themselves. You don’t have to know ChiNyanja to understand what’s going on here: https://youtu.be/IVfrli1L_ng
Our first priority in times like these is to take care of our families and friends. I am thinking of you and hope you’re able to keep yourself and your community as healthy as you can. We will be updating our website with details of our new programming, and starting next week you will be able to follow what we are doing for Lubuto’s children, and their families, on lubuto.org.
Stay safe and well,
