A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN initiative has been launched to address the shortage of reading materials in rural areas, inspired by a lifelong passion for literature and a desire to empower learners and communities.
The project seeks to collect books, promote a reading culture and ensure long-term access to information through annual donations and partnerships.
The executive committee chair of Gwambe Arts and Culture, Dupute Baratile, said the book project was inspired mainly by the realisation that rural communities continue to suffer a critical lack of reading material.
"These books include The Last Trek — A New Beginning by Frederik Willem de Klerk, Turmoil and Tenacity by Canaan Sodindo Banana and Moi: The Making of an African Statesman and school textbooks and magazines,” Baratile said.
He said growing up in the rural areas exposed him to the challenges faced by many youths, learners and even elderly people who were deprived of information simply because they had limited access to books.
Baratile said his deep love for reading, inherited from his late father, also played a significant role.
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“My father bought newspapers daily and collected books for his home library, he wrote poems and other pieces, some of which are still used in school examinations,” he said.
Baratile said the aim of the project was to gather as many books as possible and continue expanding the collection for the benefit of future generations.
“The project will soon be showcased through an official launch involving various stakeholders, including rural communities, schools and publishing houses,” Baratile said.
He said the aim was to share part of the collected material with schools annually, while preserving some for long-term generational use.
However, Baratile acknowledged the challenges faced so far, particularly the reluctance of some people to donate books.
“Some do not fully understand the motive behind the project, while others, especially those in the diaspora struggle with distance,” he said.
Baratile said that remained a major obstacle, as the idea was elf-funded and driven solely by personal commitment.
Despite the setbacks, he remains confident that the project will continue to grow and play a crucial role in improving rural literacy levels.