Kenya National Library Meru Branch has kicked off a program of visiting the street children and those in children’s homes with the aim of improving their literacy skills.
Speaking to KNA yesterday, the library’s head of ICT department Mr Isaiah Lameck said the outreach program, which is conducted on Thursdays, is meant to transform street children and encourage those in children’s homes to feel part of the society.
“We usually visit those in the streets and those in the children’s homes like Ripples International School to transform their lives and encourage them considering that they are less privileged,” said Lameck.
He said during the visits they usually discuss various issues concerning their education and life skills and donate books to the children.
Lameck noted that their efforts have been bearing fruit since most of the children predominantly from the streets have transformed and gone back to school.
He said they were ready to continue running the programme in order to ensure the level of literacy and hope in the said groups soars.
“We are happy with the response to this programme and we are ready to continue with the same to ensure we reach all such children in the county,” Lameck said.
He also called on students and other scholars within the county to make use of the facility to benefit from their studies and other academic works. “We have many resources here in terms of reading materials but very few people come here to access them,” he said.
He said they have other branches in Gatimbi (Imenti Central), Mikumbune (Imenti South), and Timau in Buuri sub-county where learners and researchers can access books at a modest fee.
By Faith Mwendwa and Dickson Mwiti