Inspiring readers of all ages
Now I can read prices so I get a fair price when shopping and I can use a mobile phone!Florence Chaptlo, new reader, 60
In isolated, rural communities where people have few opportunities, books are at their most precious. Chesengoch is a tiny rural village in Kenya’s vast, arid Great Rift Valley. The area is rugged with steep cliffs and poor roads. Most people still practise a traditional pastoral lifestyle, leaving them vulnerable to frequent droughts. Conflict between tribes has further destabilised the area and prevented many adults from attending school. Poverty and illiteracy are high.
The standard of living here is very low. People are living on less than a Dollar a day. Sometimes people only eat one a meal in the morning. In the evening you might get food, or you might not.Edward, chair of Murkutwo Primary School, Chesengoch
Chesengoch was selected to be a part of our Inspiring Readers programme in early 2016 and today local schools have brand new books in the classrooms for the first time. The local community knows that education is the key to their children’s futures.
What really gives us hope is education. That when we go to school we shall have improved our lives. This is why most of the community resources are being invested here. We mobilise resources from the community, we invest in our education.Edward, chair of Murkutwo Primary School, Chesengoch
Many of the area’s adults never had the chance to go to school and as a result illiteracy is high. When parents around Murkutwo Primary school saw their children coming home reading, they also saw an opportunity to learn to read themselves.
With the support of local teachers and librarians, they secured support from government to fund an adult education teacher and began learning to read using the Inspiring Readers books.
44 year old Joseph attends the class alongside his 70 year old father. Joseph was able to attend a few years of school, but as he was not able to finish his primary education his literacy was low.
I was 14 years when I left primary school because of a lack of money and food. That’s why I came back to be in adult education now.
The class is giving Joseph confidence and he has big plans for his future:
This education now is very helpful to me. I would like also to go up to university through this adult education so that I will come and teach other people.
Joseph is also clear on the importance of the Inspiring Readers books to him and his classmates.
But if we did not have the books, we would not be here today. The books are very helpful to us and our teacher. He has no other materials to teach us.
60 year old Florence studies alongside Joseph. She left school when she was seven to help out on her family’s farm. Before the class, she could not even write her name.
I joined the class so I could learn to read and write. Now I can read prices, so I get a fair price when shopping, and I can use a mobile phone!
Joseph and his classmates provide an inspiring example of how providing books creates opportunities for learning and literacy to thrive.
We would like to thank players of People’s Postcode Lottery for funding Inspiring Readers in Kenya.
To be a part of helping more learners like Joseph access the books they need, please make a donation today.