Instilling a culture of reading; South Sudan looks forward to new public library

In a country with one of the world’s lowest literacy rates, a local Non-Governmental organization is seeking to reverse the statistics.  

The South Sudan Library foundation is preparing to open a public library in the heart of Juba.

Located in the Gudele residential area, the Juba Public Peace Library, will open its doors to the public on October 1, 2019, with a selection of up to thirteen thousand books for free access. 

Co-founder of the South Sudan Library foundation, Kevin Thomas Lenahan says the main objective is to provide resources and instill a culture of reading.  

The United Nations estimates that only 35% of males and just 19% of South Sudanese women above the age of 15 are able to read and write – making a combined literacy rate of just 26.8% of the adult population.

Mr. Lenahan spoke to Radio Miraya’s Nelson Lwak to explain more about the library project.