KidsLibs is
a small organisation created by Anne Moore MBE, and was finally registered
in Kenya in July 2007!!!. KidsLibs creates Community Based Information
Centres with members of local communities and community based organisations
(CBO's). KidsLibs does not only create them, but advises on buildings
(rented or purpose built), finds stock (books, magazines, CD Roms
etc) trains all staff in library skills, and keeps the Centres on
the right path through monthly staff meetings (where staff from ALL
centres come together to exchange ideas) and regular training sessions.
Kidslibs logo
Community-based
Information Centres are centres run by members of the community in
which they are located, for members of those individual communities.
Currently all
our centres are to be found in some of the poorest areas of Nairobi,
and in the rural areas of Kenya. They are places where all people
- regardless of age, wealth, ethnic origin, cultural background or
ability can come to meet, and to have access to information, and materials
to encourage growth of imagination.
We encourage informal
education, rather than formal school learning. The children in these
areas use the centres as safe place where they can come to meet
their friends, study for school - when there is no space at home-,
read for pleasure, or just to feel safe. To other community members
the centres are a way to access information, use a computer, spread
ideas, complement academic studies, or simply to relax with a good
book!
Other agencies also use
our centres to disseminate their information. IOM provide us with
talks and posters on human traffiking; Kenya Breast Health Programme
have given talks at our centres, and provided information on Breast
health and cancer awareness; Red Cross have given our staff basic
first aid training; CLAN (Children's Legal Action Newtwork) attend
our monthly meetings, and have provided the staff with information
on rape and what to do when a child has been raped; AMREF let select
members of our community use their hi tech medical library; ILRI
want to be involved when our centre in Laikipia opens in 2008 to
inform communities about care of livestock. Several women's organisations
based in Nairobi want to give information to our centre in Laikipia
on FGM, and other girl child/womens issues.
Kidslibs
Community Based Information Centres are free and open to all - readers
and non readers alike. We hope to make many more centres to cater
for the needs of all of our communities. The slum areas of Nairobi
need many more – Mathare valley has 16 zones, only three of
which have community libraries so far!
Kidslibs also
hope to create more information centres in the rural areas of Kenya
where there is also a great need for access to information: in many
places a newspaper is a rare sight. In some rural areas the centres
can be seen as methods to impliment conflict resolution, as they can
unite previously divided communities through a shared activity beneficial-
and open - to all community members.
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Donors and
Sponsors 2008- UPDATED December 2008!!
We now desperately
need major funding for the Kidslibs Trust; to build new Information
Centres, to create new ones in existing buildings, and to facilitate
the Kidslibs Trust itself. Now the Trust is registered (July 2007)
KidsLibs will be able to receive money from donors as well as materials.
In August 2008 we received
a donation from AOE Corporation, which
enabled KLT to continue its work into 2009! We have also received
a donation from Paterson Foundation which
should enable us to continue a little longer!
We have previously
received donations of money from Bamburi
Cement, and from ECO
Bank and
Mercantile Insurance
here in Kenya towards the running costs of KidsLibs!! THANK
YOU! THANK YOU !!!! Also Safaricom
Foundation are supporting our centre in Kawangware!
Thank you also!!! Symbion
Architects have also designed a beautiful information centre
for us for Laikipia. Again they have done this free of charge! THANK
YOU!
Kidslibs received
stock many countries, including the USA, UK, Canada etc all of which
has to be shipped etc and sorted on arrival. We have training sessions
to organise, as well as office space, transport, telephone costs etc
etc. I do have a concept paper available if anyone is interested in
helping! Please contact Anne
As of January
2008 Kidslibs has been approached by Community Based Organisations
from other areas of Nairobi wanting Community Based Information Centres
( Korogocho, Kibera...). Community groups in Nyanza Province, Gilgil,
Nakuru, Mount Elgon area, Busia, Kakamega, and Lake Victoria region..Unfortunately
without a sponsor for the KidsLibs Trust the rural areas are impossible
to facilitate. Transporting stock, and training staff on site initially
twice a week becomes impossible unless costs can be met.
Look at our
blog too!
Please look at our website.
I hope you enjoy it!
Feel free to contact
us!
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