The social, educational and cultural initiative that allows the Webb Memorial Library of Malindi, to adapt to the modern era and digitize was finalized yesterday.
Thanks to the international platform Worldreader, already present in 14 African countries, the library of Malindi has been equipped with 53 digital readers capable of holding 1400 books each and already equipped with 100 books each, distributed free of charge. Other titles can be purchased with donations and other solidarity initiatives.
The operation was made possible also thanks to the fundraising carried out by two English spouses, Simon and Camilla Capel, who in order to achieve this goal, and also for passion, decided to climb Kilimanjaro with other friends and be financed the mission, with the final charity intent.
Thanks to the connection with Deborah Goodhart, resident and daughter of the historical supporter of the library and of the Malindi Museum Society Joan, who died in 2014, and to the initiative of the curator of the library Doris Kamuye, a real resource of Malindi, it was possible to get to this upload of the library that until now contained 6000 titles and that thanks to digital reading can already exceed 10 thousand, becoming even more attractive for young and very young people who were born and grow in the age of internet and media, even in Africa and on the coast of Kenya.
"It is a great goal and a starting point - said Yvonne Mafunga, educator and member of the new board of the Municipality of Malindi - reading is a fundamental tool for growth of girls and boys".
The director for Kenya of the World Reader Association Muthoni Muhunyo recalled that the library of Malindi is the 82nd digitalized of the country, while 130 schools are already equipped with e-readers.