Kumba (Meme) - Children on holidays in Meme Division in the South West Region now have more books to keep them busy. This follows the recent offer of books by a non-profit organization that is working in partnership with the Kumba City Council. The launch of the Ann Gabonay Library which took place recently was presided by the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Koulbout Aman David.

During the exercise, the Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council, Victor Ngoh Nkelle, lauded the initiative of EISERVI charity, saying the coming of the library will help improve the reading culture of students and pupils in Kumba and its environs, especially at a time when an increasing number of school children are unable to read their names.

Victor Ngoh Nkelle said the deal was part of President Paul Biya’s idea of public-private partnership which he instructed earlier. The Government Delegate concluded that the advent of television and social media has killed the reading culture in Cameroon, with most children spending time watching movies.

According to the Executive Director of EISERVI, Andrew Nyenty, similar libraries have been opened in Mamfe, Buea, Dschang and Yaounde. Book Aid International in the United Kingdom provides more than 60,000 books to Cameroon every year. EISERVI also this year celebrated children’s open-door corner on the theme, “Read the world.” The project seeks the creation of safe spaces in libraries and communities to support the promotion of reading and learning in children, while helping them with the foundation necessary for meaningful adulthood.

It should be noted that the Ann Gabonay Library is the fourth library in Cameroon with which EISERVI has worked to refurbish space, design children-friendly furniture, paint attractive murals and provide brand new children’s books. By the end of 2016, Book Aid International and EISERVI hope to set up six more children’s corners in libraries in Kumbo, Mbengwi, Bafut and Belo in the North West Region and Ekondo Titi and Tiko in the South West Region.