FOCHTA Youth and Community Library
Many young people in the District have no access to reading material. Schools have scant funds for textbooks and students in forms two and four are severely challenged, when preparing for their examinations. FOCHTA has established three Youth and Community Libraries in order to contribute to the education of all members of the community. Association Entraide Solidarites in France donated funding for the second of our rural libraries.
The largest of the libraries is located in the FOCHTA office, with over 1,000 books. The other two libraries (the most recent of which opened in January 2009) are located in rural parts of Thyolo District and hold more than 300 volumes each.
All of the libraries include books relevant to the Malawian school curriculum and those of more general interest, as well as information on health, especially that dealing with HIV/AIDS and its prevention.
The libraries have proven to be a great success, with many students and members of the community coming to learn, study and interact. There is great demand for the books on offer and we continually seek to expand the collection of books available, particularly the school textbooks.
Please help us grow our libraries! A donation of just A$7 (US$5) will help us add new books to our rural libraries. Book donations can also by made by visiting FOCHTA’s wish list at Amazon.co.uk