The African Library Project has entered into a partnership with the South District of Botswana to establish 100 new libraries in primary schools. This monumental announcement, the largest undertaking of the African Library Project to date, will make the South District of Botswana the benchmark of future ALP projects in Africa.
The project has targeted Botswana for this project due to its relative lack of libraries, as well as the nation’s determination and proven success in decreasing illiteracy. Home of the enormous Kalahari Desert, the tiny San Bushmen and the gorgeous Okavongo Delta, Botswana has become a beacon of hope in Africa. On September 30th, Botswana proudly celebrated its 40th year of political stability as a working democracy in Africa. Despite the highest HIV/Aids infection rate in the world (40%), Motswanans have reasons to celebrate. Secondary school enrollment rates have soared from 44% in 1990 to 75% in 2004, and literacy has grown from 69% in 1993 to 81% in 2003.

In line with the Dakar Framework of Action (2000), Botswana’s goal is to reduce illiteracy by 50% by 2015. The African Library Project, with its 100 Libraries partnership with the South District, hopes to contribute to the Dakar Framework of Action by targeting 100 primary schools in the South District. The ALP will be targeting primary schools in particular, as these have been cited to be the neediest of books and libraries in Botswana. The African Library Project believes that giving the youngest of Africans a source of books and knowledge is the first step to battling the problem of illiteracy in Africa.

The ambitious goals of the 100 libraries project was achieved after several negotiations between the ALP and key figures in Motswanan education including Kay Raseroka, head of the University of Botswana Library, Kgomotso Muahi, head of the University of Botswana Library Science School, and Olga Tsimanyane, the District Education Director for Botswana’s South District. The ALP will continue to work with these individuals, as well as the Botswana Ministry of Education and a local PTA in Botswana, in order to propel the 100 libraries project into action.