School teacher Jemimah Marak at Tura in Garo Hills of Meghalaya has started a children’s library in her locality to inculcate the habit of reading among the children of the area. With the help of friends and well wishers, she collected more than 800 books for the library.

“It’s very important for the kids to inculcate the habit of reading from a young age. But what I experienced was, the books needed were not available in market. So, I started this library in a small way with bamboo in the roof of my house. People have been so kind to me with books and other suggestions so far,” said Marak.

There are at least 65 registered members now at the library and around 25 school students visit the place. She started the library in April 2016.

This school teacher in troubled Tura is running a library at her home1 – The News Mill

Besides, activities such as storytelling, workshops on personality development, communication skills, free counselling and career guidance and recycling among others are also conducted in the library.

Though many students have expressed desire to come here regularly but are unable to do so since they live far from the library and their parents are not able to always bring them here.

The area being witnessed to disturbing developments like kidnapping and murders in the past, many parents fear to send their kids to the library.

“Thus, many eager kids are left with no choice and nowhere to go. Now, we are looking for some funds at least to buy a mini-van which will enable us to ferry students to the library. I and my husband both are school teachers and we do not make a lot of money to afford this vehicle. This van will not only serve to ferry children to and fro from the library, but it will also be a symbol of peace and hope for a better tomorrow for these precious children,” added Marak.

Now she has started her campaign for rising funds to purchase a van through ketto.org

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About Abdul Gani

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Abdul Gani is a Guwahati-based journalist