Library is a new program at Haiti Awake. We aim to facilitate access to books and activities related to libraries (vocabulary enrichment, enhancement of reading abilities or its development); and teach children how to hold books, how to take care of them, their importance and the advantages of being able to read. Yes, we want to introduce children to reading because for many it is not a common part of their lives..
Every month, we devote the last two Fridays for library. The children can choose to come on one Friday (because we do not have enough space to have them all for the moment). But some just come both Fridays (because they just do not want to miss any of our activities.
The majority of Haitian schools have little or no space dedicated to a library. Even if some schools have libraries (little or big), that doesn’t mean the access to the books by all the children. Depending on the grade of the child, they do not even notice that there is a library in their school or what library means.
We do have many books - some in English only, some others in English and in Haitian Creole. We can see that not all children are able to read even Haitian Creole or French - even the older children. . Some know how to read French but not English. They are learning how to. Some others can read but do not have the correct pronunciation or get the meaning of what they are reading. We have two French-English dictionaries available to help them find definitions they need. We do want them to have the culture of reading and be accustomed to searching, having a variety of books on many different subjects.
The feedback is positive even from the little ones that only like to watch beautiful images on the books they choose to reach for the afternoon.
My personal dream is to see Haiti Awake have a space dedicated to the library and its components, including a computer lab. I dream of having a yard equipped with appropriate chairs and tables where readers can accommodate to read and have little group discussion (not loudly) around a subject. A place open to the public (people from the community or from other communities). People that have affection for books, especially English ones.
Thank you to everyone that has made our growing library possible with some amazing books.
We are thinking about the possibility to have Library Day once a week on another day. Stay tuned. We will keep you updated.
