Kisumu County is set to establish the first ever community library to be domiciled at the Korando Educational Center in Kisumu West Sub County.
The facility has received 4000 books of different genres from different donors to kick off the project.
The library will offer services to the community members at no cost under the management of Korando Educational Center, a non-governmental organization.
The project was given a boost by the donation of 2000 reading materials for young pupils by Kiwimbi Community Centre and Library in Busia County.
Establishment of Korando Community Library is a fulfilment of the Lakeside County’s aspirations to foster a reading culture among young people.
It will be a replica of Kiwimbi Community Library in Amagoro town Teso North Sub County. The institution offers critical academic support to underprivileged learners in the rural areas of Busia who are experiencing a shortage of teachers and learning materials to boost their performance.
Governor Anyang Nyong’o speaking during the handing over ceremony of the early grade books donation said the drive is part of a broad partnership between Kisumu and Kiwimbi institutions to nurture reading literacy among the vulnerable young learners.
Prof. Nyong’o affirmed the strong collaboration between his administration and the community based organization. He assured that his administration is committed to replicating some of Kiwimbi’s programs in the slums and remote areas of Kisumu where most learners come from economically struggling backgrounds.
“There is a great need for literacy development in the rural areas where students are at a big disadvantage, not having the resources and books that the students in schools in towns have,” Nyong’o said.
This comes after the county officials visited the established Kiwimbi community library in October 2021 to explore the various areas of collaboration in the education sector.
Dolfine Oliech, Director of Korando Educational Centre said the centre has ready staff and the books they have acquired are enough to put up a library to benefit the surrounding community and give learners an opportunity to access more learning material and resources free of charge.
“We are privileged to receive a consignment of books that will go a long way in imparting knowledge to the community members. With the donation, Korando now has over 4000 books to start off a community library like Kiwimbi Library,” Oliech said.
The institution, she said, provides free education and basic needs for over 400 orphans and vulnerable children from the region.
By Robert Ojwang’
