by NTS Staff
It is an exciting thing to have visitors come and see our achievements.” Naftali, Masonry, Yr 1
On Wednesday, September 30, Nyamboyo Technical School opened The Luke Library, the first school library in our region. Until that morning, the nearest library was 30 kilometers away and none of our students had ever visited.
Nothing to read
Most of our students come from families who cannot afford books, newspapers or magazines. None of their homes have electricity. This means that after dark, they can read only by kerosene lamp – if their family can afford and spare the kerosene. And until this year, the school had no books to lend them, either.
But our students were hungry to read and voiced the desire to read more in English. Their annual professional NITA exams are in English and the more they practice, the higher they score. While we never want to “teach to the test”, in Kenya, scores are important. In fact, they can change your life.
How the library began
Luke Kugler, an American teenager, joined our penpal program when he was 15. He learned all about his penpal, his trade, and how he dreamed of having books. So, by the time he was 15, Luke decided that our students deserved a library of their own. He raised the money himself through a US-based GoFundMe campaign. To honor Luke, and his contribution, we named the library after him – The Luke Library. Many of the first books we ordered for the Library are those Luke loved reading as a child and teen.
Our masonry students jumped in and, with their teacher, they transformed an old classroom. They created a design, painting the walls, building the shelves, the tables and the chairs. The electrical teacher and students wired the room so there was the right light for reading. A bare room became a colorful, welcoming library thanks to our NTS students and the trades they are mastering.
What our shelves hold
We all read for different reasons. For those who love to lose themselves in a story, we have fiction. For those who are early English learners, we have easy readers that help them graduate, step-by-step, to harder books. For those who want to understand how the world works, we have non-fiction. For those who want to know where they come from, we have African history, and some world history too. For those learning a trade, we have technical books. For those who want to follow current events and politics, we have daily newspapers and magazines.
In one room, The Luke Library meets all of these interests.
“I felt very excited about the opening of our library. It makes me proud of my school as we now have a special place where we will get the opportunity to read books, learn new information and gain knowledge which is not necessarily covered in class.” Georgina, Hairdressing, Yr 3
September 30 – Time to Celebrate!
At ten o’clock, the first guests walked through our gates for The Luke Library Grand Opening and ribbon cutting. We had invited senior community leaders, university representatives, entrepreneurs, and association members. We had also invited our graduates. We were honored that twenty leaders and two graduates came to learn about the library and celebrate the opening.
Thanks to our leadership team of 35 students, the day ran without a snag. A welcome team greeted each guest at the entrance, handed out name tags and then gave them guided tours through the library and the school. In the classrooms, guests watched lessons in action. Our teachers had kept every classroom running and the other 125 students carried themselves through a usual day. In the library, guests spent time with our student representatives and met our senior English teacher, who curates our growing collection of books.
Guests then went to the assembly hall where they looked at exhibition booths for each trade. Six students stood at every booth and talked with the guests about their trade, how they learn, and what they create.
Then, in Kenyan style, our guests sat down to share a meal with our student representatives and senior teachers.
Speeches, the ribbon-cutting and more books
After the tours, everyone gathered for the speeches. Our main speaker, Captain Francis Omayo, Chairman of the Kisii Country Parents Association and Lecturer at Kisii University, spoke about the power of education and about never giving up on a dream. The message suited the day, since the library itself began as one boy’s dream.
At last the ribbon was cut and The Luke Library officially opened its doors.
Book donations closed the program. Guests brought books with them, and several promised to send more.
It was a day planned for Nyamboyo community leaders to meet our students and see them in action. Not only did they see the library, they watched students at work in their classrooms and trade shops. They found students happily reading in the library. They talked with students over a meal. Our guests received a three-dimensional view of our school and the life of an NTS student.
“This event has made me look forward to reading more books. We should always receive more books so that we have several books to read on various topics.” Sharon, Tailoring, Yr 2
The next chapter
A library begins with shelves. It grows with books. It comes alive through its readers. Our shelves are built, and our readers have come. Now the library needs to grow with them.
Our dream is to add 500 more books to our shelves. If you would like to help us purchase more books, please visit https://nyamboyotechnical.org/donate/
Luke’s plaque carries a simple message for every student who walks through the door.
