The Maktaba Project is a proposed literacy project by the Rotary Club of Dundas Valley Sunrise (D7090) and the Rotary Club of Nairobi Madaraka (D9212). The word Maktaba is Swahili for Library.
The aim of the Martaba Project is to equip eight needy schools in Kenya with fully functioning libraries. Each of these libraries will serve between 500 to 800 students from the ages of 7 to 18 years old i.e., from primary school to secondary school. Through these libraries, the students will not only have access to educational reading material but will also get access to leisure and inspirational learning materials. The libraries will also make it possible for the students to have a place where they can do their assignments in the evening and over the school holidays. We expect that students from neighbouring schools will come to the libraries.
The Rotary Club of Nairobi Madaraka is currently involved in literacy projects. During the RI Year 2018/19, the club partnered with Royal Media Services, a local media house, to distribute educational books to ten schools in three counties of Kenya. In RI Year 2019/20, the club conducted a library pilot project at Friends Integrated Centre located in Kariobangi in Nairobi and serving children from the informal settlement of Kariobangi North. This project aimed to provide these students with updated education curriculum materials as well as learning tools.
The Maktaba Project is expected to be a one-and-a-half-year project and is expected to have the following results:
- Teachers and students will be equipped with updated educational material.
- Lead to encouraging interests as students have easy access to books on hobbies.
- Access to a place to study some. This is especially for students who don’t have a quiet place to do homework in their homes.
- Improved academic performance in students completing their primary and secondary school education.
- Increased student intake by these schools as parents would want their children to attend schools that show dedication to literacy.
- Encourage a reading culture. The school libraries will have reading groups and reading schemes for the children.
