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The Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre is enhancing the literacy and quality of life in under-resourced areas of Zambia through literacy and community outreach projects.
The organisation’s objective is the promotion of a strong reading culture among children, youths and communities in underprivileged areas to boost literacy levels.
Passionate about books and development in her country, Mwanja Ng’anjo decided to formalise her work after years of collecting books and distributing them to schools and communities in Zambia. In 2021, she put together a team of volunteers to help grow the vision of reaching more schools and districts around the country to improve levels of literacy.
The Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre’s team of volunteers are involved in the following activities across some of the districts of Zambia:
- Collection and distribution of books and educational materials to underprivileged schools.
- Collection and distribution of books and materials for the establishment of school libraries.
- Provision of literacy materials to adult learners needing basic skills or English as Second Language skills.
“In Zambia, commendable progress is being made towards improving access to primary school education. Nonetheless, the percentage of children who are illiterate is still too high, as major challenges in learning outcomes persist, especially when it comes to literacy rates. Primary school learners in the lower grades exhibit low alphabetic knowledge and decoding skills.
“For example, a baseline report on Early Grade Reading Assessment conducted by USAID in 2018 reveals that most Grade 2 learners struggle to read fluently and comprehend grade-level text at the end of their grade. It has been observed that oral reading fluency can be improved through reading practice, teaching methods, and the availability of reading materials. It is for this reason that the Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre team collects and distributes reading and learning materials to help close this gap and boost literacy levels both among children and adults in several districts around Zambia,” Ng’anjo told Spiked Online Media.
The Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre undertakes monthly book drives for distribution to Zambian schools and communities where needs have been identified. Since May 2021, it has been mobilising and donating an average of 200 books a month. The books mobilised are both new and second-hand books that are in good condition.
The Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre team of volunteers also embarks on stationery and educational material drives for distribution to under-resourced schools. The materials include stationery such as crayons, pens, pencils, rulers, calculators, files, reams of paper, exercise books and journals.
Some of the beneficiaries so far include communities and schools in the following areas:
- Bayuni Pre, Primary and Secondary School, Lusaka
In the last half of 2021, some books were donated to Bayuni Primary and Secondary School in Lusaka.
- Local communities in and around Makeni, Lusaka
The Makeni local community workers and their children near the physical premises of the Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre in Lusaka are also recipients of books and educational materials that are mobilised by our team from well-wishers and donors.
- Katuba Primary School, Chibombo District, Central Province
Our team of volunteers have previously donated books to Katuba Primary School, (a school with over 100 pupils) and made a commitment to assist with more literature and educational books for their library.
- Katuba Day Secondary School, Chibombo District, Central Province
During our visit in May 2021, members of staff at Katuba Day Secondary indicated that they would appreciate as much as support as possible in terms of learning materials for the 800 + pupils currently enrolled at the school. A further donation of books was made in November 2021.
- Nampamba School, Mpongwe, Copperbelt Province
Materials donated to Nampamba School include stationery, as well as pre-school, primary and secondary school level books for the establishment of the school’s new library. Two donations of books and stationery have been made to Nampamba School in the course of 2021.
Individuals and organisations can help by donating new and pre-loved books and stationery in good condition that they can be transported to various locations in Zambia and distributed to underprivileged schools and communities.
One can also assist by helping Katuba to conduct book and stationery drives, spreading the word through networks or making a financial contribution.
Where to Find Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre
The team of volunteers, largely composed of women, receives books, stationery and learning materials for distribution at:
Plot 396a/100/B/2, Londola Road, Makeni, Lusaka, Zambia.
Connect with Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre
Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre
PO Box 320416
Woodlands, Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: +260961306673 / +260960753835 / +27 828826866
Twitter: @Katuba_Literacy
Instagram: Katuba_Literacy