Book collection initiative starts three new libraries in Darfur

“Awareness is the closest way to helping people achieve their aspirations,” says Khartoum literary writer and journalist Stella Gaitano, whose initiative has collected more than 8,000 books with a view to establishing public libraries in Darfur, and elsewhere in Sudan and South Sudan.

The initiative “Make a difference with a book”, has managed to collect enough books to establish public libraries in three towns in the Darfur region.

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

Stella explained that awareness is the closest way to helping people achieve their aspirations, referring to the slogan ‘Awareness Revolution’, stressing the need for tools that help in achieve the aims of the revolution, including public libraries in all cities of Sudan. She says that there has been great response from the Sudanese public as it managed to collect about 8,000 copies of various books that exceeded the planned number by 3,000 within five months since the initiative’s launch in December last year.

Stella says that the initiative now has branches spread across the region, including Khartoum, Port Sudan, and Juba in Southern Sudan. She appeals to all Sudanese people, especially the youth, to take advantage of their free time by reading books, as well as contributing to the initiative so that it would spread to all cities of Sudan and South Sudan.