The mobile library tackling illiteracy in Burkina Faso
A brightly painted bus loaded with books is bringing the joy of reading to children in Burkina Faso, where access to libraries and educational resources remains limited in some parts of the country.
Known as the Bibliobus, the travelling library visits schools and communities to give children access to stories and study materials they might not otherwise have.
According to IMF data, literacy among Burkinabè aged 15 and over rose from 28.3 percent in 2007 to 37.7 percent in 2015. But the country still lags far behind global averages, and educators worry that phones, television and video games are pulling children away from books.
“Nowadays, children prefer cellphones, games, TV, and cartoons to reading,” said Edwige Ouattara, a documentary filmmaker at the Burkina Museum who helps run the project. “Through the Bibliobus, we are promoting reading to young children, encouraging them to love reading,” she told Viory.
The bus carries books to schools, where children can borrow titles and join guided reading sessions. Each day, about 20 children take part, and since its launch, more than 100 young readers have visited.
Inside, shelves are stocked with comics, African storybooks, and international classics such as Alice in Wonderland. Volunteers and teachers help the children explore the books.
“I came to read books in the Bibliobus and I read the book ‘Akissi.’ The book was really interesting, like all the books in the Bibliobus,” said elementary school student Davina Zongo.
The project still faces shortages. “We don’t have enough books for our little ones, and we are counting on the goodwill of others to help us acquire more,” Ouattara said.
She hopes that with donations and volunteer support, the Bibliobus can expand its reach and provide more opportunities for children to develop literacy skills.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
