By Kondwani Magombo:
When local non-governmental organisation Opulence Malawi started distributing solar-powered lights to households in Traditional Authority (TA) Chakhaza in Dowa in 2022, the goal was to help learners read at night and improve their school performance.
To date, 4,000 solar lights have been distributed, with plans to distribute 1,000 more, bringing the total to 5,000.
However, during community engagement to identify other pressing educational issues, a new challenge emerged: learners needed books. This led Opulence Malawi to develop a complementary project.
“At first, we considered donating books, but without a reading culture in place, we felt this approach would not be effective,” the organisation’s founder and executive director, Hugo Ngwira, explains.
Ngwira adds that the better solution was to build a fully equipped library where learners could read and borrow books, with a proper tracking system to ensure effective use and impact.
In July 2024, Opulence Malawi began constructing Mtanila Community Library, which was completed in December 2024.
The library, built on a 225-square-metre plot at Mtanila Primary School, Madisi Trading Centre in Dowa, includes a spacious common area for up to 50 adults, a children’s section, a storeroom, a librarian’s office and a computer lab for digital literacy.
The library features five movable shelves, each with a capacity for 5,000 books, bringing the total shelf capacity to 25,000 books.
Additionally, fixed shelves on the walls can hold up to 15,000 books, making the library’s total capacity 40,000 books.
Currently, Opulence Malawi has stocked the library with 2,500 books and is seeking partners to donate more. The organisation has partnered with the National Library Service (NLS) to procure additional books.
Mtanila Community Library will also implement the NLS’s digital system, Coha, for book automation and client data management.
The organisation also plans to approach other institutions, such as the Shepherd Bushiri Foundation, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority and companies like Consumer Electronics, for book donations.
The library serves not only the 2,600 learners and staff at Mtanila Primary School but also the broader community in TA Chakhaza, benefiting thousands of learners, men, women and youth.
“We are fortunate to have this library on our land. We have always wanted to instil a reading culture and when we approached Opulence Malawi for books, they introduced us to the library project. We were more than happy to offer the land,” Felix Siliya, head teacher at Mtanila Primary School, says.
Siliya adds that the library will complement the strides the school is making in improving pass and selection rates.
The entire Madisi Zone and surrounding areas will also benefit from the library.
Projenitor Lyson Kandion, Primary Education Advisor for Madisi Zone, describes the library as “a symbol of hope, knowledge and empowerment for our community.”
“It is a hub for access to books, digital resources and programmes that foster a love for learning and promote social inclusion,” Kandion says.
Madisi Zone has 13 public schools with 10,429 learners, including 4,983 boys and 5,446 girls. The library will also support learners from private schools and public secondary schools like Madisi and Natola.
The construction of the library also created jobs for local men and women.
In the long term, the library will provide the community with opportunities to gain knowledge in areas such as small-scale business and computer literacy.
“We live in a world where technology is rapidly advancing and computer literacy is essential. We hope the library will also stock books on local history, culture and heritage, so future generations can learn about their origins,” a member of the library’s main committee, Powell Mumba, says.
Aubrey Allan, the newly appointed librarian, agrees with Mumba’s suggestion.
Allan, a 25-year-old graduate from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is excited to work in the community he grew up in.
“It feels good to be part of the transformation in the area,” he says, a smile flitting across his face.
Ngwira, whose organisation also focuses on food security, health, nutrition and economic empowerment in TA Chakhaza, views the library project as just the beginning.
“I am glad we have come this far, but I will be truly satisfied when I see more children embracing a reading culture and excelling in school and more community members gaining knowledge on current affairs, small-scale businesses and computer literacy,” Ngwira explains. —Mana
