Alex is a very jovial 19-year-old boy who lives next to Impact One. Despite attending public school, by 6th grade, Alex still could not read or write. With no books to use, it became a constant struggle to keep up with school. When he started middle school, he began regular self-study with a Bible, the only book available to him at home. Even though he didn’t understand most of the words, he would use it to practice spelling.
2019 Alex reading a book with a friend outside our library.
It was when Alex was in 9th grade that we opened our doors for the first time, he and his siblings were the first to visit us on our very first Community Day. They became regulars, and we often found Alex outside reading with his siblings. Years later Alex is still with us, but now as a volunteer! He enjoys reading to the children, using his creativity to employ different methods of keeping them engaged during story time.
2022 Alex reading with kids in the library.
“I love reading to the children because if they learn how to read they will have a better future.”
Many children in Zambia have no access to books and will go through their whole lives never reading a storybook. Unlike Alex, most do not have access to a library on their doorstep. Here, we open our doors to all the children of Ng’ombe so they can learn to read, write, and use these skills to shape their futures. Alex is working hard to ensure he can help as many children as possible learn how to read. Not only does this change his life, but also changes that of many more children in Ng’ombe for the better.