Children show in pictures how Lubuto Libraries have changed their lives
Lubuto is currently undergoing an exciting and rigorous external formative evaluation by Rights2Change to assess the implementation of the Lubuto Library model to date, assisting LLP to document and understand how successful it has been in achieving its objectives, while providing recommendations for improvement. The evaluation is generating fascinating qualitative findings of our outcomes, along with other information that is critical to achieving our goals. One wonderful exercise carried out by the evaluators asked our young library users to illustrate how the library has affected their lives. The evaluators then recorded the children's comments about their "before" and "after" drawings. The drawing above is a typical result: child after child expressed many practical ways in which their lives have improved since they started coming to the library.
Outreach continues to boys and girls living on the streets
Our outreach facilitators, Kenny Hau and Brenda Mkandawire, have been working with street children who stay in a large outdoor market called the "Soweto" market, not far from the Fountain of Hope Lubuto Library. Our facilitators meet with groups comprised of nearly 20 youth—about 1/3 girls—whose average age is around 13. Kenny and Brenda focus on topics requested by the children—and their most pressing request was to discuss HIV/AIDS. The street children clearly lacked information on how HIV/AIDS is contracted and their comments demonstrated the misinformation that is widespread on the streets. The facilitators corrected misunderstandings of this life-and-death subject and will follow up in subsequent weeks with more information and discussions with the youth. This is truly a life-line from the library!
Meet Lubuto's Library Training & Services Coordinator
Besa Mwenda Given (who goes by Besa) is our newest staff member! She has just joined Lubuto to oversee daily operations in the two Lubuto Libraries in Lusaka and train library staff and volunteers in library services for children and youth. Besa has academic training in library and information studies, public administration and computer science, and experience in special libraries in Zambia. She will also be able to learn from Lubuto with immersion and training in children and teen services and literature. We expect that her enthusiasm for the exciting environment she has found at Lubuto Libraries will become contagious among our library colleagues in the area. Welcome Besa!
Meet the Lubuto community: Mercy
Mercy is 8 years old. She attends school at Ngwerere Basic School. As soon as lessons finish, she runs home to take care of her baby sister, Loveness. Sometimes, when all of Mercy's chores are all done, she and her friends are allowed to visit the Ngwerere Lubuto Library for a couple of hours. They bring Loveness with them, and they read as many books as they can. If there is an adult available to read with them they will demand book after book! Loveness likes the library too, because she can toddle around and look at the books. Lubuto is overjoyed that we can support her early intellectual and literacy development. Mercy loves coming to the library because she feels it is a place where that she can relax.
Please join us as a sustaining supporter
As a Sustaining Supporter, you will receive an email with each donation to keep you informed of Lubuto's latest developments, of which you are a key supporter. And as you know, this support gives thousands of children, who may otherwise never see the pages of a book, the opportunity to learn, communicate and grow in beautiful, safe and welcoming libraries, making a real and lasting difference in their lives. A modest donation charged to your credit card each month or quarter helps Lubuto tremendously.
Click here to make a difference every month.
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