Opening a new chapter

But this project did not begin on opening day.

Long before the shelves were filled with books, the children themselves were part of bringing this vision to life. Together, we built shelves, cleaned and prepared the room, sorted and organized books, and transformed an empty space into a place of learning, imagination, and possibility.

For us, participation is essential. We believe that when young people are included in the process, they gain ownership, motivation, and confidence. A project is never only about the final result,  it is also about the skills learned along the way. Teamwork, responsibility, creativity, practical skills, and pride in creating something meaningful together are all part of the journey.

That is why involving the children from the very beginning was never a question for us, it was the foundation of the entire project.

The opening itself was connected to one of our monthly Kipaji events, days dedicated to fun, talent, connection, and simply being present with one another. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, laughter, music, and celebration as the children explored the new library for the first time.

We were honored to have the official launch conducted by a representative from the Government Children’s Office. Working together with government institutions is important to us because collaboration creates more sustainable impact. When communities, organizations, and public institutions work hand in hand, we can build support systems that last far beyond a single event or project.

This library is more than just a room filled with books. It is a space created to help close the gap in access to education for children while they are staying in the remand home. By creating opportunities for learning, reading, and personal development, we hope to make the transition back into school and society a little easier, and the gap for reintegration a little smaller.