She is therefore, fundraising for up to 20,000 books through an organization called ‘Enjuba’ (which means the moon in one of the local dialects).
The calm after the storm is in progress. The lockdown is waning out and business is getting back to normal as it was before the country went under lockdown due to the COVID 19 crisis. Many sectors were affected, and such is the education sector. Schools are still closed and it’s not clear when they will open.
But one lady, Lizza Kawooya is taking steps to ensure that teaching continues without a physical teacher standing in front of students to lecture. She is ensuring that school going children embrace a strong reading culture. “Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Uganda's schools have been closed, leaving 15 million children without access to teachers, libraries, or online learning and friends,” she enlightens us.
“Children, especially from vulnerable rural communities, are in complete isolation, in terms of continuous learning which now requires internet, televisions, and radio sets which most families in the communities do not have.”
Kawooya believes that if nothing is done at the moment, there might be a surge in the number of school drop outs in the country. She argues that this will affect the wellbeing of many children.
She is therefore, fundraising for up to 20,000 books through an organization called ‘Enjuba’ (which means the moon in one of the local dialects). She hopes to reach children in 20 vulnerable rural communities in the 4 regions of Uganda. And she hopes that the books will encourage them to keep reading and learning through this pandemic.
“We want to bridge the inequality gaps amongst the rural school going children and the urban. Our goal is to get books to children so that they can fall in love with reading during this pandemic, children need friends and encouragement, and a book can be that friend."
Her appeal to the public therefore, is for parents and well-wishers to purchase the books from her and her organization for UGX 10,000 (about $3) but there’s an option of gifting UGX 50,000 (about $14), which will translate into purchase of 5 books to 5 children; so that they will be able to even share with their friends in the communities where they live.
The government and other stakeholders are still pondering on when schools will be open.
By CivSource Team