Type: Blended
PHASE: Design
CATEGORY: Education
LOCATION: Igbor, Nigeria
KuSoma | The Moving Library
Africa

Log in or register to follow or vote for this project.
KuSoma provides rural villages in Africa with access to books and library services. Reading is essential to nurturing imagination, creativity, critical thinking, and learning, particularly in the African child.

Standings & Awards

591 out of 591 in Africa
779 out of 779 in Education
935 out of 935 in Design
1066 out of 1066 in Blended
4003 out of 4003 Overall
KuSoma provides residents of rural Africa, particularly children, with access to books and library services.

Introduction: KuSoma is a moving library project that serves the purpose of providing access to books for residents of rural villages in Africa. KuSoma is a hybrid term stemming from two words; in the Hausa language 'Ku' is the plural of 'you;' in Swahili 'Soma' means 'read;' when combined, they give birth to a new word: KuSoma, meaning 'you [all] read.' Residents of rural Africa are often unable to access urban libraries due to lack of frequent and affordable transport. Books are key to expanding the learning experience of people, particularly children. Through reading, the individual learns and reinforces knowledge; additionally, the individual nurtures imagination, creativity, and critical thinking.

Impact: rural African residents will be better prepared for innovative thinking and problem solving. The impact will be especially marked in young residents of rural Africa, who are currently in need of access to books equivalent to that of their Western and Asian counterparts. In lieu of waiting for traditional static library facilities to be built and equipped across the entire continent, a fleet of moving libraries presents a flexible, affordable, and practical alternative.

Method: initially, used vans will be outfitted with a moderate selection of books. Each bookmobile will service a designated area consisting of several villages. In a second phase, KuSoma will also seek to equip its moving libraries with affordable satellite powered internet, as well as used laptop computers that residents of villages will be able to use whenever a moving library is stationed in their village. Marrying pragmatism with a commitment to empowering Africans, KuSoma seeks initial funding and donations of books and vans to equip moving libraries with the necessaries to launch a fleet of 15 book mobiles. As the first fleet is launched successfully, each group of villages will be set on a time table to begin assuming the costs of equipping, funding, and owning their bookmobiles.

Growth: recuperated investments from the first fleet, coupled with additional donations and sponsorship that KuSoma receives will be used to finance new fleets of moving libraries. KuSoma moving libraries will give residents of rural Africa the abilities to expand their universe and dreams through reading.

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation? 
KuSoma's innovation is a vehicle equipped with books, internet connectivity, and computers; this vehicle, a moving library, travels in rotation within a group of villages to provide access to books and library services for residents of rural Africa. KuSoma achieves this objective flexibly, and affordably.
2. Who gains the most? 
Children in rural Africa stand to gain the most from KuSoma. Children are still at a developmental age. Reading carries a huge potential to broaden their intellectual faculties; furthermore, other library services such as access to internet connectivity and computers will better prepare them to participate in a future globalized international community.
3. Who pays? 
KuSoma's finance model is hybrid. Initially it will rely on an initial sponsorship/grant. Once running, each vehicle will service a number of villages. These villages will be empowered to contribute to the operation and upkeep of their moving library, thereby making each moving library self-sustaining.
4. What is your success? 
Success Benchmarks | 1 year: 15 moving libraries are launched operate consistently in 15 different areas on the African continent. 2 years: the initial 15 libraries are bought, owned, and operated independently by their respective communities. An additional 10 to 15 libraries are launched, for a total of 25 to 30 moving libraries by the 24th month. WiFi and laptop access is introduced to the moving libraries. 3 years: steady and sustained annual increase 10-20 libraries for the KuSoma fleet.
5. How will you do it? 
KuSoma's team will consult several library groups in Africa as well as the US, UK, and France, to construct master reading lists that reflect the cultural heritage of the regions being services by KuSoma, as well as the national language, and an international standard of classic and contemporary literature mater. KuSoma will use funding to source used copies of the books, and vans to be deployed on the continent.