Libraries Without Walls

When we started the Tree Library Program in 2017, we had a simple goal: to bridge the literacy gap by providing access to books and educational resources to children in rural communities. We began by partnering with local schools and community centers, collecting book donations, and training volunteers to manage the libraries. Fast forward to today, Libraries Without Walls has planted reading spots and community learning centers across 5 regions in Ghana, and have impacted more than 17,000 children, girls and out-of-school youth, not just through our but through Foundation for Educational Equity & Development other programs including Aspire. We’ve also expanded our program to include literacy workshops for teachers, author readings, STEM, digital learning, creative expression and other activities that build and nurture a love for reading and learning. One of the most rewarding aspects of our program is seeing the impact it has on the children and their communities. We’ve had children who were struggling to read and write become confident readers and even volunteer to help other kids read in our communities. We’ve also seen communities come together to support the libraries and promote literacy. Seeing all these happen gives us hope for the future - both for the over 17,000 children we’ve impacted over the year and the children and communities Libraries Without Walls has yet to reach out to. We dedicate our 2024 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize to all our volunteers and supporters!

Students from Ayenya D/A School in Ayenya,Ghana have also excitedly received backpacks filled with school supplies via @librarieswithoutwalls with the kind donations of Books For You Miami.

As the literacy, digital learning, creative expression and STEM program of Foundation for Educational Equity & Development, we bring a blend of these activities to build diverse skills and knowledge for the children we meet in the communities we serve including functional literacy, digital citizenship, creative thinking and STEM innovation.

Every child deserves to be more than just a token voice - they should be active participants in their education and communities. Our Ananse Ntontan Creative Arts Competition exploits continue to show one thing: that creative expression intersects with and reinforces literacy, and can be a potent force for good in our communities.

The Ananse Ntontan Creative Arts Competition has given us a special chance to celebrate the link between literacy,STEM and creativity. It’s amazing how these artistic expressions can inspire and bring people together! Grateful for the opportunity to inspire a generation of creative students in our communities.

We’re all about nurturing creativity in our children through our Creative Expression program! The Ananse Ntontan Creative Arts Competition is a fantastic opportunity for students to express themselves through painting and STEM. Libraries Without Walls will continue to offer children the space and materials to turn blank canvasses into creative arts and cheer them on as they share their amazing talents with the world!

LITBAG CAMPAIGN So excited to have delivered some of the LitBags to students at the Fountain of Knowledge School in Ayikuma. The bags come compete with school supplies and reading books for the children. We are grateful to Books For You Miami for donating these backpacks!

LITBAG CAMPAIGN We are excited to have dropped off LitBags for students without school bags in Second Kings School, marking our third school. The bags, which come complete with an assortment of school supplies, were donated by Books For You Miami The aim of the project is to ensure that children without school bags have one, as well as school supplies and reading books for themselves to improve learning and literacy outcomes. We believe every child must have a school bag to keep their supplies and books safely and ensure a stress free school day. We are grateful to Books For You Miami for supporting this project!

The second edition of our Ananse Ntontan Creative Arts Competition was held at the Mt. Zion Presby Model School in Dodowa, with over 30 boys and girls participating. Creativity and literacy intersect in so many ways. The Ananse Ntontan competition is storytelling in itself. The students combined STEM, art, storytelling, listening, comprehension and creativity skills to bring the concept of Ananse Ntontan to life. We are grateful to the school authorities for our collaboration and thankful to all our volunteers who supported this project!

We are excited to share that our second #LibraryCorner has been activated for students and teachers at the Mt. Zion Presby Model School in Dodowa. The Library Corners project ensures that children and teachers in schools without libraries have the opportunity to experience a mini library installed in the corner of a classroom. The aim of the project is to bridge the literacy gap and improve learning outcomes through literacy. Our message is simple : #literacy4all no matter their location or circumstance. We are grateful to Goethe-Institut e.V. Ghana for supporting this project and thankful that we can complement the book stock for this project with books donated by Books For You Miami.