Zambia Literacy Week at the Lubuto Library Project
Last week it was Zambia Literacy Week and we at the Lubuto Library Project were very busy doing things to celebrate! First, we took LubutoStorytime out on the streets with the outreach team to share reading with the most vulnerable youth. We were joined by one of ZNBC's newsreaders on Monday at Soweto Market, and on Tuesday the musician Red Linso came to City Market. The kids were rapt and it was a very rewarding experience for all of us. At the session in Soweto market, I was chatting with a boy who stayed at FoH for a few weeks until fairly recently. He used to come in the library a lot, and help to supervise the laptops. He used to be such a bright, happy boy, who was gaining in confidence. On Monday, though, he was clearly high on sticka and he was staring at the photos on the Lubuto Library Project sign, as if he was trying to work out where he had seen them before. I reminded him that he used to come in the library and supervise the laptops for me, stood with him as he was listening to the story. He started to remember things, and before we left he asked me to take him with me. We couldn't bring him back with us as he was so high but I really hope he manages to sober up and return in the near future.
We also went to Arcades shopping mall with a stall to promote our services on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons. In particular we were showcasing our LubutoLiteracy programs. Although business was slow to start with, by Saturday afternoon we had lots of interest (despite being in competition with an international football match!).
