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I first visited the SAIDE Community Library in 2017. I still remember the first time I met Kelvin, the library’s coordinator. I was introduced to him by a mutual friend while sitting in a local market. Kelvin. Had told us that he was just finishing a day’s work, and he was stopping by the market to pick up a few groceries before heading home. In an attempt to get to know my new friend, I had asked Kelvin what he did for work. What I didn’t know at the time was that his response would touch my heart more than I could have ever imagined. Kelvin told me that he worked at a local library down the road and that the library’s main role is to help young students in the community with their schoolwork. But it didn’t stop there – Kelvin continued to tell me all about the fantastic work that he does with SAIDE and all the children who have benefited from the library’s services. The immense passion and enthusiasm with which he spoke were so profound, I was absolutely enthralled. I had never seen someone so excited by their work. But then I realized that, for Kelvin, this didn’t just work, this was his purpose. Kelvin is so incredibly dedicated to the SAIDE Community Library and to sharing his adoration for books that one can say it’s contagious.

 

Shortly after our first meeting, Kelvin took me to visit the library and meet a few of its regular patrons. He proudly showed me around and told me about some of the activities he normally conducts with the kids. The library was filled with books for children of all ages, and a few tablets for electronic reading. The children and youth were sitting around the tables, happily helping each other with their homework – such a wonderful sight to see! I quickly realized the importance of community libraries. Community libraries are more than just libraries – they are spaces in which children can come together and help each other flourish. They act as a hub in which community members help each other improve their reading, writing, and other transferrable skills so as to further their education and improve their lives. In many cases, books and other school supplies can be quite costly for families in Kenya. Community libraries strive to bridge this gap and provide young students with invaluable learning resources. But perhaps most importantly, community libraries give children the confidence they need to succeed and inspire young readers to achieve their highest aspirations.

 

Kelvin puts his whole heart and soul into that library, and it clearly shows through the students’ eagerness to learn. Ever since the first day, I visited the SAIDE Community Library I’ve admired Kelvin and his love for the library. I truly wish there were more people in the world like Kelvin and more community libraries like SAIDE. Our children are the future, and they need a space in which their minds can be cultivated – a space much like the SAIDE Community Library.