By Zainab Joaque
The founder of the Sierra Leone Book Trust (SALBOT) Sallieu Turay has presented over 5,000 books to the US Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires Mitchell P. Benedict for onward transfer to schools that have Peace Corps volunteers as teachers.
Presenting the items at the Peace Corps office in Freetown, Turay said it was in furtherance of the partnership that had existed between them and the Embassy spanning over ten years.
“During the war years, the entire education system was completely devastated, libraries were destroyed, and books were used as fuel wood”, he said, adding that since 2002 his organisation had been trying to salvage “the book famine” that had existed. He thanked the Peace Corps Volunteers for their support which he said had created “a positive impact” as they came to their rescue in areas where they could not venture because of logistical challenges which he said was their major constraint. He said they had the means to bring the books into the country but that when they arrive, it becomes difficult to distribute them across the country.
US Charge d’Affaires Mitchell P. Benedict stressed the importance of books in the educational process. “As well as being valuable classroom teaching aids, they [books] provide opportunities for independent study and research” he said, adding that they “nurture young minds and open doors to new worlds”. Benedict said the books would be dispatched to Peace Corps volunteers in every region of the country which he said amounted to “sharing more than just objects, or pieces of papers”.
“We are sharing ideas and opening new horizons for the future leaders of this country, and we are re-affirming the fundamental truth that knowledge is power” said Benedict.
Joel Wallach, Co-Country Director, Peace Corps Sierra Leone, expressed his appreciation to SALBOT for “an important initiative” which he said would make a big difference to the schools and youth of Sierra Leone. “We view library more than a place that hold books. We see it as clearing house for information, more than just a place where people can read books.” he said. He went on to say that a library is “a place where students can learn about the larger world”.He said that about 80 volunteers are engaged in library work through by supporting existing ones and instituting new ones that were destroyed during the war. He said they also support local teachers and librarians working with them one-on-one, opening libraries for kids to study in the evening, holding discussions and audio visual programmes.
“Library development is a way of engaging and empowering youths, a way of supporting the educational system here,” he said.
The partnership between the US Embassy and SALBOT has resulted in tens of thousands of books being distributed by the Embassy to schools, libraries and partner organisations throughout the country. SALBOT and “Books for Africa” have arranged delivery of three 40-ft shipping containers full of books. “Books for Africa” have shipped over 24 million high-quality text and library books to children and adults in 46 African countries.
