Start A Library Trust

11/10/2026

Child marriage is not a solution to economic hardship. A child should never be a bargaining tool.

This International Day of the Girl Child, we stand for the UN theme: "End child marriage and invest in girls' rights!"
Across Kenya, too many girls are pushed into adulthood before they are ready. At Start A Library Trust, we break this cycle. By keeping Kenyan girls reading and in school, we protect their childhood and empower their future.

Masana wa Afrika CivFund Citi Together for Girls GO Campaign Gratitude Network EdTech East Africa Lake Turkana Wind Power Teach For Kenya

09/10/2026

The best books for Kenyan classrooms should be built with Kenyan teachers.

In September, teachers from seven partner schools helped shape SAL’s Foundational Literacy Ladder through practical book reviews and classroom insights.

As we prepare for our January 2027 pilot, every piece of feedback brings us closer to our goal: helping children become confident, independent readers.

Rainbow Room Foundation GO Campaign Masana wa Afrika Storymoja Publishers

07/10/2026

What a great way to start your day and jog your memory!🧠

Do you think you have what it takes to crack this riddle? Drop you best guess in the comments below without peeking at other answers!

Tag a friend to join in the challenge too!

06/10/2026

After establishing a library at Nzou Muonza Comprehensive School in March, we recently returned to assess the learners and gauge where they are after months of having access to storybooks and a library space to read.

The assessment, together with feedback from learners and teachers, will help us understand their progress and identify areas that need more support to make reading for pleasure a lifelong habit.

We look forward to sharing the insights once the analysis is complete.

Masana wa Afrika Kenya Connect Lake Turkana Wind Power Library Aid Africa

05/10/2026

Today, we celebrate the extraordinary educators across the world who show up every day to nurture, guide and inspire our children.

To all our teachers, we see you, we appreciate you, and we celebrate you.Thank you for your resilience, your patience and the love you pour into every learner. You are the quiet architects of our future, helping shape confident, curious and capable children.

Happy World Teachers’ Day! ❤️

Kenya Teachers Forum (KTF) TEACHERS IN KENYA Rongo University Rainbow Room Foundation Kenya Connect Teach For Kenya

02/10/2026

Why do we expect children to sit perfectly still to learn?

Studies show that rhythm and literacy share the exact same neural pathways in a child's brain. When children clap to a beat or sing a story, they are actively building the foundation for learning how to read.

When we train teachers to bring books to life through songs and games in library lessons and book clubs, a few incredible things happen:

1. Higher Retention: Rhythm and melody act as cognitive anchors, making new words and concepts much easier to remember.

2. Active Engagement: Turning a book into a physical game shifts children from passive listeners to active participants.

3. Positive Association: When learning feels like play, children build a lifelong love for books and education.

What was your absolute favourite children’s song or game growing up? Looking back, how did it help you learn or remember things? Share your memories in the comments!

Gratitude Network GO Campaign Oliveseed Foundation Masana wa Afrika

01/10/2026

Meaningful partnerships help local solutions grow and create lasting change.

We are grateful to our global partners at GO Campaign for featuring us and our founder, Evelyne Mwandia, in a story that explores the roots of our mission and the impact of our girl-led Imarisha Clubs.

Through these clubs, learners are building confidence, finding their voices, and discovering what they can achieve when given the space and support to grow.

We are glad to have partners who believe in the power of locally led solutions and the lasting difference they can make.

Read the full feature here: https://www.gocampaign.org/blog/project-update-start-a-library-trust-is-helping-children-in-kenya-build-confidence-through-books

Library Aid Africa The Nobelity Project School Librarians Association of Kenya -SLAK EdTech East Africa The Library of Congress The Skoll Foundation Kenya Connect Masana wa Afrika

GO Campaign partner Start A Library Trust was recently featured on EdTech Mondays Kenya, alongside Storymoja, in a conversation about how storytelling, school libraries, and creative EdTech tools are helping improve foundational literacy in Kenyan schools.

30/09/2026

We caught up with Lydia Wambui, the head of institution at Mugutha Comprehensive School during the library launch and her excitement was hard to miss!

She shared that this new space and the storybooks will completely transform her students by sharply improving their communication, creative thinking, comprehension and academic excellence.

She also expressed her gratitude to Sukuma Twende Trust, Shay Shah and Arhan Shan, whose amazing efforts and donations made this dream a reality.

🔥 Library Aid Africa Global Partnership for Education EdTech East Africa Kenya Connect School Librarians Association of Kenya -SLAK

29/09/2026

Yesterday, we saw what using your passions to give back to your community can really mean.

Shay Shah and Arhan Shah, two brothers from the Sukuma Twende Trust family, turned their love for sport and music into a fundraising mission that established this new library at Mugutha Comprehensive School.

For these children, it meant shelves full of stories to discover, books they can call their own, and a new reason to be excited about reading.

Sometimes, making a difference starts with using what you already have, and what you already love, to help someone else. What could your passion make possible for a child? Reach out and enable more children experience the joy of reading for pleasure.

The Nobelity Project Rongo University Kenya Connect Library Aid Africa School Librarians Association of Kenya -SLAK Libraries Without Borders US Nakitare Joel Lake Turkana Wind Power

28/09/2026

If you need something to make you smile today, watch this video.

At the beginning of the year, this brilliant learner could not read. But he really wanted to. He wanted to enjoy stories like his classmates and be able to pick up a book and read for himself.

His teachers kept encouraging him, guiding him through phonics and creating opportunities for him to read and enjoy stories through their book clubs.

And now, look at him. He is reading fluently, understanding the story and enjoying the moment.

These are the moments that remind us why giving children the right support, time and encouragement matters. Help us celebrate him in the comments 🎊🎊

Kenya Connect Education For All Children Room to Read Sukuma Twende Trust American Library Association The Nobelity Project Global Partnership for Education