More than 50% of Kenyans live below the poverty line and educational gains made since independence are reversing. This is characterised by non enrolment and low completion rates, particularly among girls.
Book Aid International has had a programme in Kenya since 1965. Our main partner is the Kenya National Library Service which has a network of 30 libraries and provides access to books and information for readers throughout the country. We support their work to develop and promote a nationwide reading culture. Special services include support for prison libraries, the camel mobile library service, which travels out to nomadic communities in the semi-desert province of Garissa, adaptable caterpillar shelves and book boxes for rotation in the Karatina area, an Aids information awareness service and a service for the visually impaired.
Through book provision and training programmes we are also supporting young learners and promoting reading and literacy. At the moment many children finish primary school with only very limited reading skills and only a quarter of schools have a library. We are working with the National Book Development Council of Kenya to support the creation of school libraries and to offer teachers the chance to learn reading promotion techniques for use inside and outside of the classroom. Their reading tents project visits 120 schools each year, providing book collections, training and a fun-filled reading event at which children can take part in face-painting, storytelling and drama activities.
We also provide book support for refugee communities in Kenya. At Kakuma refugee camp donations have supported trainee teachers, primary school students and learners at the Don Bosco Vocational Training centre. There is a huge demand to use the refugee camp library which accommodates 200 users every day. Our contacts in Kakuma sent us a report at the end of 2006 stating that they greatly value our support since, 'For many refugees the only thing they can gain from their exile and that they can take back home with them is education'.
We have also developed partnerships with Kenyan NGOs working in sustainable agriculture as well as organisations who provide access to information for the education and training of refugee communities.
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