Enhancing access to text books to educationally marginalised children through the establishment of textbook exchange and sales points in Cameroon

Roland Usongo Tekum

Roland has been in the forefront of promoting various projects focusing on the needs of orphans and vulnerable children in Cameroon. In 2012 he launched the pilot phase of the Village Library Program, which is a project of LINK-UP, an organisation working for improved conditions for children.

 

Roland took part in SE Forum’s SE Outreach Accelerator in 2013.

 

Village Library

The idea behind Village Library Program is to enhance access to text books to educationally marginalised children in particular and children in general through the establishment of textbook exchange and sales points in Cameroon. Children, who are part of the textbook exchange programme, are certain to have access to core textbooks (Mathematics, English and French) throughout their entire school programme. In that way, children will not be sent away from school due to lack of textbooks and their learning experience will be enhanced. An exchange fee will be charged for those involved in the exchange process by parents, guardians, local authorities among others. An integral component of the Village Library Model is the sales corner. This unit is designed to promote sales of textbooks at a reduced price especially in remote localities where there are currently no book shops.