UK-based NGO donates books to children's library

The Bamenda City Council Children’s Library Corner which was recently opened has received volumes of new books provided by a United Kingdom-based NGO, Book Aid International, in collaboration with Education Information Services International, EISERVI.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Bamenda City Council Library Open Doors Children’s Corner recently, the Executive Director of EISERVI, Andrew Nyenty, said the launch coincided with this year’s World Book Day, which is not a coincidence, but a deliberate action to link the opening with the theme “Read the World”.

On how possible it is to read the world without the required tools with one of the oldest being a book, Nyenty expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom for the new books to enrich the Children Library Corner of the British Council.

He said the new books from the United Kingdom would be complemented with locally produced and published books, in a bid to support local content and also to show the children and teenagers who use the section that great writers do not only come from overseas, but are part of their communities.

The EISERVI Executive Director said, for his organisation to establish 10 Open Door Children’s Corner is added work, requiring travels and sleepless nights as shown in Bamenda and Limbe.

“Since our creation in March 2007, EISERVI has worked to empower communities and support library initiatives across Cameroon as an input to knowledge, information and skills acquisition which are powerful tools to fight poverty.”

Together with their partner, Books Aid International has donated over 60,000 books and educational materials annually, for the benefit of Universities of Buea, Dschang, Ngoundere, Douala, YaoundeI, Bamenda, Maroua and over 44 public and community libraries including the Bamenda City Council Library, schools, NGOs, Orphanages and prisons.

According to Nyenty, a functional library is not one that is well furnished, but one that is well furnished and above all well used. He appealed to parents, teachers and the general public to make a solid foundation for progress and development by enrolling children in the library.

The Secretary General of the Bamenda City Council, Fomefret, who presided over the ceremony, described the Children’s Corner as a rare jewel and requested the children and teachers to protect it.

Quoting one of Africa’s legends, Nelson Mandela, the City Council Secretary General said Education is the greatest weapon to fight poverty.