Street Library Ghana
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« STREET LIBRARY PROJECT »
A new Alphaction’s project in partnership with VPWA
Faced with the lack of infrastructure providing access to books in Ghana, we have created a library carrying from village to village in the Ga-West Region (suburb area of Accra, the capital of Ghana).
Our project “Street Library” takes place in Ghana in partnership with a local NGO VPWA (Volunteer Partnership for West Africa)
The street library is mobile and accessible to all, in order to meet people who have limited access to books. We have a collection of books at disposal for display. Once established, children and adults will be invited to meet under the tent to read individually or to listen to a reading.
Above all, “Street library” is an educative project to fight against illiteracy. Furthermore, the education gained through reading can facilitate better integration into society.
In many schools pupils do not have access to book because they are too expensive. Children rarely have access to anything beyond their basic school books, lacking exposure to comic strips, books with pictures, paperbacks, novels and so forth. This lack often prevents the development of an interest or enjoyment in reading. An interesting variety of books can show reading to be a pleasure instead of an obligation. Reading is also the best means of gaining knowledge and opening up a person’s mind to the world around them. “Street library” could improve the quality of education for children who are going to school, as well as offering whole communities the possibility of access to books. It will result in an empowerment of disadvantaged groups in these communities.
Due to the community of people we are targeting in this project, a street library is considered the best-fit. To create a library directly in the street makes books more accessible and visible to the whole community; making access easy, simple and friendly. “Street library” facilitates people meeting, communicating and relationship-building.
More than the educative angle, there is the preventative also. In fact, this kind of event could show the importance of education and literacy, as well as encouraging a desire to learn. Reading gives access to knowledge and “Street library” would be a means to heighten awareness of literacy in the community.
Alphaction and VPWA are involved in providing quality information on existing literacy solutions for those wishing to go further in knowledge.
To establish and develop this project, Alphaction and VPWA rely on the volunteers’ work. Since 2007 the NGO VPWA has received many volunteers and interns to work on projects supporting achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Feel free to contact Alphaction or VPWA if you want to support innovative projects in raising awareness of literacy as the Street Library project.
