Mr Luc’s opens 17th library
It was all but smiles for students at St Pius Primary in Blantyre both girls and boys as Mr Luc’s Library spearheaded by Luc Deschamps, a French Honorary Consul and Jacaranda School for Orphans Executive Director, opened a library at the school.
Being one of the well-known primary schools in Blantyre, the school did not have a library but now they have one where students can access different books to broaden their knowledge and improve their vocabulary among others.
Deschamps, said the opening of Mr Luc’s Library at St Pius Primary School which is named after him, was part of Jacaranda Outreach programme of public libraries and school libraries – reaching 41,000 children in Blantyre so far.
Apart from St Pius, Mr Luc’s Library has also opened in schools such as Chigumula, Misesa, HHI, Kapeni, Bangwe, Nkolokoti, Makata, St Maria Goretti, Limbe and Kanjedza.
Mr Luc’s Library has also opened libraries at Patsogolo Education Centre, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital Pediatric Ward, public library at Chemboma Village, public library at Trade Fair, public library at Jacaranda Cultural Centre and a community library at Wandikweza Health Centre in Dowa.
“Jacaranda School for Orphans restored a vacant room here at St Pius, painted and decorated it and brought in shelves, tables, chairs and books that were sorted out according to the reading levels of the children,” Deschamps said.
He said they continue to receive requests from different schools across the country and that they were working on opening other school libraries in Blantyre and beyond with the intent of fostering a reading culture among children in the country.
Deschamps also said the programme was part of supporting the government in its National Reading Programme.
Just as they have done with other libraries, Deschamps hailed partners who have been there supporting them in the project including the Hu Family.
Head teachers for St Pius Boys and Girls hailed Deschamps for opening Mr Luc’s library saying it will help students improve in their studies.
One of the students Sally Matola, who is in grade four, said it felt amazing for them to have a library with new books.
“The stories are nice, I love reading and so Mr Luc’s Library will help me improve in my reading and writing. We also promise to take care of the library and books so that others can also use it,” Matola said.
Another grade four student Abraham Nyirenda, said they will utilise the library by reading books to improve in their studies.
The opening was spiced up with activities.
Also present during the opening of the library were students and teachers from Shanghai American School in China, who are in the country to embark on different programmes.
