Classroom Libraries Project
The Classroom Libraries 2024 Project is an initiative by Unique Foundation (The Gambia) in collaboration with Book Aid International, with the support of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through the Regional Education Directorate, Region 2.
Objectives and Expected Outcomes
1. Primary Objective: Provide 7,500 high-quality English language children’s books to form the core collection of books for 30 classroom libraries.
2. Training: Train over 30 teaching staff in basic library management to ensure the effective use of books and library facilities.
3. Target Group: 17,500 children, with a focus on improving literacy rates and access to quality educational resources.
Project Aim
This project aims to address the lack of access to educational resources in remote primary schools across The Gambia, focusing on schools without existing library facilities. The initiative will establish 30 classroom libraries in 10 primary schools within the West Coast Region, with each school receiving at least three libraries. These libraries will be stocked with a diverse collection of a minimum of 250 books per classroom, tailored to children’s reading levels. The collections will include storybooks, subject-related texts, and workbooks, enriching the learning environment and fostering student engagement and comprehension.
Project sustainability
To ensure the sustainability and effective use of the libraries, three teachers from each participating school will undergo training in library management. This training will empower them to manage the libraries and incorporate them into their teaching practices. Additionally, the project will implement structured reading sessions, including guided practice and read-aloud activities, to improve students’ literacy skills.
Project vision
The ultimate vision of the Classroom Libraries 2024 Project is to foster a culture of reading and learning throughout The Gambia. By expanding this initiative to more schools within the region and beyond, the project aims to equip students with the literacy skills essential for their educational and personal development.
Project Activities
Needs Assessment and School Selection (August 2024): Identify low-performing schools with no existing libraries.
2. Library Set-Up (October 2024): Establish 30 classroom libraries in 10 schools.
3. Book Provision (October 2024): Distribute approximately 7,500 books, including UK-donated and locally purchased books, across the schools.
4. Training and Capacity Building (November 2024): Deliver training workshops for teaching staff on library management.
5. Reading Sessions (December 2024 onwards): Implement reading sessions and reading aloud activities to enhance students’ reading skills.
6. Monitoring and Evaluation (Throughout the Project): Regular assessment of the impact of the project, tracking progress, and making necessary adjustments.
7. Final Report (August 2025): A comprehensive evaluation report outlining the project’s impact, lessons learned, and recommendations for future projects.
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Empowering Young Readers: Classroom Libraries Project at Busura Basic Cycle School
As part of our wider Classroom Libraries Project currently being implemented in 10 schools across The Gambia, Busura Basic Cycle School in Kombo Central recently received a donation of 970 age-appropriate storybooks and educational titles. The official handing-over ceremony marked a major step forward in our commitment to strengthening literacy development in rural and under-resourced learning environments.
Despite having a designated space for a library, the school previously lacked both sufficient reading materials and a dedicated librarian, limiting student access to quality books. This donation—made possible through the generous support of Book Aid International—has now significantly improved the school’s capacity to nurture reading culture among its 737 pupils (409 girls and 328 boys).
To further promote reading engagement, we also conducted a read-aloud session with learners, which created an exciting and interactive introduction to the books. These sessions not only ignite imagination and listening skills but also help struggling readers build fluency and confidence. Three more read-aloud sessions are planned before the project concludes in October 2025.
The school’s leadership, including Head Teacher Mrs. Binta Jagne and Deputy Head Teacher Mrs. Saptieu Savage, along with 30 teachers and a three teachers—Sarjo Sanyang, Philip Jatta, and Awa Sumareh—have been trained under this project to help manage the books and facilitate reading activities, ensuring the sustainability of the project at the school level. They are now better equipped to manage the resources and promote literacy across all 18 classrooms.
We are immensely grateful to Book Aid International for their partnership and support in making this initiative a reality. Busura Basic Cycle School is one of ten schools benefiting from this impactful project, and together, we are planting seeds for a future filled with empowered readers and lifelong learners.
Opening Minds Through Reading: Classroom Libraries Project at Gunjur Lower Basic School
Gunjur Lower Basic School, located in Kombo South District, is one of ten schools selected to benefit from our Classroom Libraries Project, an initiative made possible through our valuable partnership with Book Aid International. The school, which serves a vibrant community of over 1,300 pupils (677 girls and 628 boys), recently received a significant consignment of books to help build classroom-based mini libraries, transforming how learners access and engage with reading materials.
Despite having an existing library, the school lacked relevant and age-appropriate books to support its growing student population. With 48 teachers and 24 classrooms, the demand for quality reading resources had long exceeded availability. That has now changed.
Thanks to this project, classrooms—particularly those in Grades 4, 5, and 6—have been equipped with engaging storybooks, learning materials, and for the first time, Arabic texts alongside English ones, reflecting the unique cultural and linguistic composition of the Gunjur community.
As part of the project rollout, three teachers—Philip J. Mendy, Ousman K. Touray, and Tako Janneh—received hands-on training in library management and classroom reading strategies. Their role will be vital in ensuring the sustainability of the mini libraries and the integration of reading into daily school activities.
We also hosted our first read-aloud session with learners, a lively and interactive event that left students eager for more. These sessions create joyful and enriching moments that boost vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills, especially for emerging and reluctant readers. More sessions are planned through October 2025.
Reflecting on the importance of this initiative, Deputy Head Teacher Mrs. Bintou Jassey shared:
“This Classroom Library is very important because it boosts up children’s reading skills. For a child to be performing, they must be able to read. If the child cannot read, then the child cannot understand anything. This project will help a lot, especially for Grades 4, 5, and 6. By the time learners reach Grade 7, they will be better readers. We are very happy to have been selected as one of the schools.”
Mrs. Jassey also expressed deep appreciation for the culturally inclusive approach of the project:
“We are especially thankful for the inclusion of Arabic reading texts. In this community, we have many Arabic scholars. By bringing in both English and Arabic books, Book Aid International has shown that they value and respect both forms of learning. Even the School Management Committee was grateful and happy with this approach.”
This project is not just about books—it is about opening minds, nurturing curiosity, and equipping children with the literacy skills they need to thrive. With support from Book Aid International, we are creating spaces where every child, regardless of background or reading level, can explore, imagine, and grow.
We remain deeply thankful to our partner, Book Aid International, for their generous support and commitment to inclusive, quality education in The Gambia.
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Madam Jankey Keita, Deputy Head Teacher of Sifoe Lower Basic School, commenting on the project's impact.
One remarkable improvement is how engaged the children have become with reading. I have a student who, during break time, has to be reminded to come for lunch because he is always at the classroom library reading. The number of children who can read has increased significantly, and teachers are also playing an active role in supporting them. A book is maintained to record borrowed books, ensuring that children take books home, read, and return them.
The classroom libraries have improved our school’s overall performance, and we believe that by the end of the term, we will see even greater progress in English and reading assessments.
A very big thank you to Book Aid International for providing these resources and to Unique Foundation for making this initiative possible.
Teacher Training Workshop on library management
Some of our team members are sorting, stamping, and categorizing the books.
Some of the bookshelves, already been taken to individual schools.
Some pictures show the condition of the roads leading to some of the schools. These pictures were taken during the rainy season.
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