People in rural Africa lack the modern conveniences and resources available to those in the western world. Because of years of civil war, disease, corruption and poverty, children in many parts of Africa, grow up without electricity, running water, and indoor plumbing. They live in a part of the world with unpaved roads, no medical care and little access to anything beyond their village.
Most children living in Africa's remote communities did not have regular formal schooling until 1997 when Universal Primary Education became law. Even today with mandatory elementary school education, attendance and learning are difficult at best. Teachers must teach without basic supplies. Students cannot search for information on line, visit a bookstore or go to a library for further study. Books are a luxury.
Africa Reads is changing this situation.
Africa Reads makes books are available to 725,000 children and adults in the isolated villages of the Arua District, in northern Uganda. The Africa Reads program encourages children to form a life-long love of books at an early age.
Goals
- To support literacy for children and adults in rural Africa through "Onita Feza", a mobile book library.
- To establish a nurturing environment for learning through partnerships with village elders, teachers, and school administrators.
- To build a library / community center in Arua, Uganda, to be used as a learning center for children and adults.
Africa Reads is a 501(c)(3) organization.