As one of our main pillars is to promote literacy, we want to ensure access to books and other educational resources. Therefore, setting up a library is our top priority.
Step one was to make sure the room is suitable - we combine two small rooms by taking out the conjoining wall. Then we need to fix the roof - we cannot afford leaks in a room filled with books and other resources. Since the support beams have been eaten by termites we need to replace the entire roof.
After fixing the roof, the civil engineer informs us that the floor was never properly sealed, allowing moisture to seep in. The only solution is to tile the floor to create a barrier keeping out the moisture. The cement used for the walls was also of poor quality - there is mold growing and big patches will have to be replaced.
The last step is to paint the walls using high-quality oil paint. The sunny yellow not only brightens up the room but should also withstand the many little hands that frequent the library.
We move in the books and games we have so far. A generous donors adds study and collaboration tables and a first shelving unit.
When acquiring books, we want to make sure to include as much local literature as possible. Our goal is to support Zambian authors and publishers and to provide our readers with stories they can easily relate to. At the same time, we also want stories from other cultures to inspire the imagination and broaden horizons. Finally, we also want plenty of non-fiction material so that we are not just teaching people how to learn to read but also support them in reading to learn.
