This year has been a rollercoaster of struggles for so many people. It all started with a cholera outbreak that hit hard, shutting down schools until February.
Just as we thought we were catching a break, the rains stopped, and things went from bad to worse. The country was hit by a serious drought that dried up crops, sent food prices soaring, and left people scrambling to make ends meet. But the worst part? The endless power cuts. Businesses couldn’t keep up, jobs were lost, and people were left in the dark. It felt like the whole country was wrapped in a blanket of uncertainty, and the stress was just nonstop.
Despite all these hardships, the library has been a second home for many children. Every Wednesday on Community Day, the library comes alive. Attendance has doubled this year as children pour in, eager for a moment to read, play, and simply be kids again.
Offering more than just books, the library gives children hope and a sense of belonging. Francis is one such child who has desperately needed this. He’s nine years old, with curious eyes that often betray his shyness. Francis struggles to express himself in the simplest ways. He cannot confidently share basic details like his name, age, or where he lives. When asked, he often hesitates, looks down, or gives incomplete answers, as though the words are stuck just out of reach.
This inability to articulate such fundamental parts of his identity isn’t just a challenge, it’s a barrier. It isolates Francis, making it hard for him to connect with other children or adults. He watches from the sidelines, unsure of how to join in, not because he doesn’t want to, but because he feels out of place. His difficulty reading and writing compounds the issue.
But over time, Francis has found the library to be a space where he doesn’t need words to belong. His curiosity brought him to the library, but the atmosphere has made him stay. Now, Francis is a regular visitor, captivated by the bright, colourful pictures and bold shapes that seem to tell stories just for him. Slowly, he’s coming out of his shell. Our library has opened a window to a world that accepts him as he is and shows him that he is worth so much more than his struggles.
There are countless children like Francis, children who feel invisible, who don’t have access to books or the support they need to grow. That’s why we need you. Your generosity has given Francis a chance to dream and discover his worth. With your help, we can reach even more children, giving them the tools they need to create brighter futures.
Thank you for walking alongside us in this mission and for helping us train these children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6).