Meru residents have been urged to embrace the culture of reading to empower themselves with information and new technologies which suit the highly competitive global market.
Speaking at the Kenya National Library Meru branch during the graduation of 48 youths who have been undergoing Information Communication Technology (ICT) training, Kenya National Library Meru Branch Librarian Richard Wanjohi noted that majority of the youth do not like reading.
Wanjohi said more than 3000 youth have been trained on ICT since 2017.
He said apart from the ICT skills, they have also been training the youth on identifying their talents.
“This is our 15th ICT graduation ceremony and we are happy that the youth are embracing our programs. We also conduct talent shows where we help them nurture their skills away from books,” said the Librarian.
Wanjohi added that the Library also runs “Uzuri” Empowerment Hub where girls aged 18 to 25 years are taught how to deal with peer pressure and handle mental health issues.
Wanjohi said that they are also supporting schools set up libraries.
“We donate books to the schools and train the teachers and the students or pupils on how to manage their libraries,” the librarian said.
Elizabeth Karimi, a teacher at Kinoru Day Secondary School, one of the schools set to benefit with a library, said the reading culture helps students do research when pursuing higher education.
“When one develops a reading culture, it becomes easy for them when they join tertiary institutions and universities. Reading also keeps the youth busy and it could help reduce the mental health challenges that are being experienced in our communities,” Karimi said.
