Community Reading Days

For the past 5 years, enjuba has carried out an annual campaign that has aimed to raise books for children coming from the worst PLE-performing districts in Uganda. It started in Kaboong in 2018 when 300 books were raised for Kalangor Primary School. The hope the first book-giving campaign brought to the children was so vivid that many of them shared that these books were the first books they ever owned in their lives. This fuelled the team to map out partners in the worst PLE performing districts in Luuka at Budondo Primary School, Bukhonzo Primary school, Kabukwesi Primary School in Namisindwa district, Busesa community in Bugweri district and Kibwanja Primary School in Hoima district. 

In Uganda today, every 9 or 10 children 10 years and below, cannot read and comprehend a simple sentence, greatly contributing to their drop out of school. 

In the recently released PLE results, It was seen that 67% of all the children who started P.1 seven years ago did not complete P.7. For a young country like Uganda, this should be a cause for great concern. 

This year, we kicked off the Book Giving Campaign on International Book Giving Day (Valentine’s day) on the 14th of February, 2023. This time around, we are raising funds to deliver 1500 books and having a reading day with the children in Okere City, Otuke district, and St. Mary Malongwe Primary School in Buikwe district. Otuke district was among the 50 worst-performing districts in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations while St. Mary’s Malongwe Primary school achieved no first grades in the previous year’s PLE in Buikwe district. The books will be delivered on Drop Everything And Read Day (D.E.A.R day) which will be celebrated nationally on the 15th, March 2023. This year’s D.E.A.R day partners include; Peace Corps, Ministry of Education and Sports, Kampala City Council Authority, Peace Corps, Rotary International, National Book Trust, National Libraries of Uganda, Deaf Link Uganda, Read For Life, Reading Association of Uganda, Oasis Book Project, Old Mzee Books, National Media Group, PANGEA, among other education advocates have come together to celebrate the day, disseminate information and reading materials in different locations of the country.

We invite you once again to join and be part of our Book Giving Campaign by buying a book or more for children in Otuke and Buikwe districts at $3 to help see reading as a way of life. You can also dedicate 30 minutes to read by yourself or to a group of children in your community on D.E.A.R Day.