World Book Day is a period to pay worldwide tribute to books and authors and encourage everyone, particularly young people, to rediscover the pleasure of reading.
However, while some children have access to quality education, can read and write, there are millions of children most of whom are displaced that lack access to education and learning materials. A survey carried out on Internally Displaced Persons Camps at Karamajiji, Durumi and Kuchingoro shows that there are over 500 school-aged children who don’t have access to reading materials and formal school.
To commemorate the 2016 World Book Day, Devatop Centre for Africa Development with support from United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) donated educational materials to the internally displaced children. Devatop and other partners, including Teenz Global Foundation, BookmySchool, AFRICMIL, Kabash Love Foundation, Project Hope Alive, and Carl Maj Foundation also donated 554 books and pen to the children.
In an interview with newsmen, Joseph Osuigwe, the Director of Devatop Centre for Africa Development said that this year’s World Book Day celebration, tagged “FCT Book Drive for Internally Displaced Children” was meant to encourage reading and writing among the children by providing basic educational materials to them. He expressed the desire of his organisation and partners to provide educational support to the children. According to him, UNICEF provided a recreational box, early childhood educational box, and school-in-a box which contained more than 3000 materials.
The materials included books, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, chalkboards, rulers, sport wears, globe, markers, puzzle, memory games, slates, volleyballs, footballs, basketballs, mathematical sets, etc. These materials will help to engage the children in learning and sports. He stated that UNICEF had shown its commitment in supporting children, especially those who are displaced.
The chief and coordinator of the Internally Displaced Camp expressed his happiness and appreciated UNICEF and Devatop, Teenz Global Foundation, Bookmyschool, AFRICMIL, Project Hope Alive, and Carl Maj Foundation for their donation to the children. He was optimistic that the materials would encourage the children to learn. He appealed to the government, companies, organisations and individuals to join hands in providing educational support to the children.
To sustain the impact, Devatop Centre for Africa Development and its partners have plans to launch a teaching project for the internally displaced children.
For more information, contact www.devatop.org; info@devatop.org; +234806725127
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