“Reading is the key that unlocks the world.” That’s what they say here at the Osu Children’s Library. It is more than just a building filled with books. It’s a haven where young minds blossom.
The Osu Children’s Library Fund has a clear mission. It partners with local communities and authorities. Together, they build vibrant libraries in Ghana. These libraries promote reading for children. They also offer literacy classes for adults.
Kathy Knowles founded the Osu Children’s Library Fund in the 1980s. Her vision was simple. She wanted to create spaces where children could discover the joy of reading. The Rotary Club of Winnipeg and the Kinston, North Carolina Rotary Club supports it financially.
The Osu Children’s Library is more than just a place to borrow books. It’s a place where stories come alive. Imagine a child discovering “A is for Ampe: An Alphabet Book from Ghana”. They learn the alphabet and also about Ghanaian culture. Ampe is a game played by girls involving jumping and clapping.
Or picture a child engrossed in “Mumaizu and the Hippos”. This book tells the story of a boy from the Upper West Region of Ghana. He visits the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary with his father. The sanctuary protects about 20 hippos along the Black Volta River.
The Osu Children’s Library Fund has built seven libraries in the greater Accra area. It also supports projects in other countries. These countries are Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mozambique, and the Philippines. The fund also runs free adult literacy classes two mornings a week.
If you want to visit, the Osu Children’s Library is near the Kofi Annan IT Centre in Osu. It’s just 100 metres away.
Several books are available here like “My Food Book” which shows foods found along Ghana’s coast. “Twins Together” is about four-year-old twins from a Ghanaian village who enjoy their daily lives. “All About Ama” helps children learn the parts of the body. They also offer a range of colourful books like “My Blue Book”, “My Green Book” or “My Yellow Book”.
Deborah Cowley helps Kathy Knowles with the library project. She mentioned that visitors find their way to the library thanks to guide books. They read to the children and buy books.
The Osu Children’s Library is a testament to the power of reading. It is a place where children can learn, grow, and discover the world.