None of the children who attend Olng’arua School have electricity at home. They all live in traditional houses built of mud and sticks, lit at night by a paraffin lamp, or more likely, just a fire. There are no books in their homes. Occasionally a newspaper might be brought back if someone makes the trip to town, but not often. Most of their parents didn’t get the opportunity to learn to read (though some are now attending adult literacy classes at the school).
These are circumstances that can prove very challenging to many of the children who have developed an appetite for books, fiction or factual. That is why we keep the dinning hall open after school has finished for the day, so that the children have somewhere to indulge in the pleasure of reading. The staff often join them there, pursuing their own interests or reading from our growing library of teachers resources.
We are particularly grateful to all of you who continue to send us such wonderful books. Every book you send is helping to grow an appetite for literature and enquiry in these young people, and that surely is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.
Olng’arua Book Club