Worldreader, an international non-profit organisation, has rewarded local budding authors with digital reading devices as part of the organization’s efforts to promote digital learning in the country.
Worldreader donated 30 devices to winning authors of the Jomo Kenyatta Literature Prize and the Wahome Mutahi Literary Award during the Nairobi International Book Fair that concluded at the Sarit Centre, Nairobi last weekend.
The devices were presented to the Kenya Publishers Association Chairperson Kiarie Kamau by Worldreader’s Regional Director, East Africa Joan Mwachi. These were in turn presented to winning authors in the categories of Adult, Children and Youth writing in both English and Swahili, and included the winner of the Wahome Mutahi Prize for Literature. The devices will enable the authors to access digital reading and learning content.
While presenting the devices, Ms Mwachi called for the development of positive reading habits particularly among children especially by exposing them to resources that communicate the importance of reading.
Cadbury unveils a digital library of African stories to inspire a love for reading
She said it was important to develop an atmosphere of reading in the home and to talk to children about why it’s important to read and to give them opportunities to demonstrate what they’ve learnt.
Kamau on his part thanked Worldreader for the donation and also congratulated the winners of the Jomo Kenyatta Literature Prize and the Wahome Mutahi Literary Award.
Attendees were encouraged to download Worldreader’s BookSmart app; An easy-to-use free reading App that provides access to a library of culturally relevant digital books in 5 languages, appropriate for both school and home as part of a journey to becoming lifelong readers and informed decision-makers.
About Worldreader
Worldreader believes that readers build a better world. As an international NGO, Worldreader works with partners globally to support vulnerable and underserved communities with digital reading solutions that help improve learning outcomes.
Combining 21st-century technology, a library of culturally relevant digital books in 52 languages, and integrated support – Worldreader helps millions of children across the Global South read.
Over the past 10 years, Worldreader has reached more than 21 million people in communities where paper books, including storybooks and textbooks, are scarce.
Worldreader supports programs in five regions (East and West Africa; Latin America; the Middle East-North Africa; and South Asia) while readers across 82 countries benefit from our digital library. Since 2010, Worldreader has distributed over 40 million digital books to readers around the world.