Book drive initiative launches three new libraries in Darfur

“Raising awareness is the closest way to help people achieve their aspirations,” says Khartoum writer and journalist Stella Gaitano, whose initiative has collected more than 8,000 books to establish public libraries. in Darfur, and elsewhere in Sudan and South Sudan.

The “Make a Difference with a Book” initiative succeeded in collecting enough books to establish public libraries in three cities in the Darfur region.

In an interview with Radio Dabanga’s Youth Issues program, Gaitano, from South Sudan, explained that the initiative aims to establish public libraries in Sudan and South Sudan, starting in war-affected areas. Three public libraries have already been launched in Nierteti and Nyala in South Darfur, and Ed Daein in East Darfur.

Stella explained that awareness raising is the closest way to help people achieve their aspirations, referring to the slogan “Awareness Revolution”, stressing the need for tools that help achieve the goals of the revolution, including including public libraries in all cities of Sudan. She says there has been a great response from the Sudanese public as they have managed to collect around 8,000 copies of various books which have exceeded the planned number of 3,000 in the five months since the initiative was launched in December of l ‘last year.

Stella says the initiative now has branches spread across the region, including Khartoum, Port Sudan and Juba in South Sudan. She calls on all Sudanese, especially young people, to use their free time to read books, as well as to contribute to the initiative so that it spreads to all cities in Sudan and South Sudan.