Accessible and Inclusive Libraries

The inABLE.org, Our Reading Spaces program, was created in 2010 to empower Africa through reading through the construction of libraries in rural villages and communities. These reading havens nurture a reading culture, support the school-going youth, and serve to disseminate pertinent information on issues confronting both the young and adult populations. To date, inABLE has established two libraries:

Kairi Library

This community resource serves over 4000 students and teachers from the 12 schools within a 5km radius. The library is also open to the adult residents of the Kairi Community. Daily attendance is over 100 visitors.

The nearest library to Kairi Village is 15km away. This distance may not seem far for those with viable modes of transportation, but to an individual walking on foot, a trip to the library is a day's journey. Through the generosity of the Safaricom Foundation, approximately 12,000 books were sorted and packed by volunteers in Atlanta, Georgia. They arrived in Kairi village, Kenya, on October 6, 2010, to establish the Our Reading Spaces - Kairi village. The Kairi Community donated a piece of land for the library, and Bidco Ltd. donated a shipping container to house the books.

Thika Primary School for the Blind

This is Africa's oldest school for the blind and visually impaired. Founded in 1946, the school did not have a library, and Braille books were shared between four or more blind students. Our Reading Spaces converted an old room into a library that houses approximately 12,000 Braille volumes and books with large text. The library now serves over 250 students and over 34 teachers.

Inclusive Library Project

(Fundraising/Vision stage)

inABLE is currently fundraising for an inclusive library in Kairi Village, Kiambu county, which has more than 600 people living with a disability (PWDs). The nearby Thika Primary and High Schools and Joy Town Primary and High Schools for the physically disabled will benefit significantly from the library services. The schools mentioned above have more than 1,400 students who are blind, have low vision, or have a physical disability. This allows inABLE to design an inclusive library that can serve the Kairi community and PWDs in neighboring counties.