13,000 and Counting: Free Books Distributed Across Zambia!
Help Us Complete Building a Community Library in Makeni, Lusaka
We believe that every child deserves access to books and a safe reading space. In 2024, we began building a community library in Makeni (Londola area). Currently, the structure is halfway complete. We urgently need to raise funds to finish the roof, build ablution facilities, and furnish the space for community use. Please donate today! Together, we can build a space that empowers minds and transforms futures. Our GoFundMe link is: https://www.gofundme.com/f/makeni-needs-a-library-lets-build-it-together
Katuba Literacy & Outreach Centre – Zambian registered NGO
Our mission is to contribute towards the enhancement of literacy and quality of life in under resourced areas of Zambia.
Our vision is actioned through the promotion of a strong reading culture among children, youths and communities in underprivileged areas to boost literacy levels.
Why We Exist
In Zambia, recent data (though not official) suggests that the country’s overall literacy rate could be around 62.6%, with 78.2% literacy in urban areas compared to just 49.8% in rural regions. Commendable progress is being made towards improving access to primary and secondary school education. Nonetheless, the percentage of children who are illiterate is still too high, as major challenges in learning outcomes persist, especially when it comes to literacy rates. Oral reading fluency can be improved through reading practice, teaching methods, and availability of reading materials.
Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre was registered as an NGO in 2021, with recommendation from the Ministry of General Education. We collect and distribute books, reading and learning materials FOR FREE to help close reading fluency gaps in Zambia.
History and Leadership
Passionate about books and their role in people’s well-being and society, the founders of Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre decided to formalise their work after eight years (2013-2021) of collecting books and distributing them to schools and communities in Zambia. In 2021, they put together a team of volunteers to help grow the vision of reaching more schools and districts around the country to improve levels of literacy. Katuba Literacy and Outreach Centre was then registered as a non-profit organisation.
It is governed by a board of five advisory directors that meet quarterly to provide strategic guidance for the organisation to grow and meet and its goals.
What We Do
We are passionate about touching lives, one book at a time! At Katuba Literacy & Outeach Centre, our team is involved in the following activities across different provinces of Zambia:
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Collection and distribution of books and educational materials to underprivileged schools.
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Collection and distribution of books and materials for the establishment of community and school libraries.
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Provision of literacy materials to youths and adults needing basic skills or English as a second language.
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Operating a community library in Lusaka.
- Support to and running of children’s reading clubs.
Get in touch with us to make a difference!
When literacy rates grow higher, societies are often more healthier with higher employment rates. Together, let us build a better Zambia! We would like to hear from you. Our book and resources distribution centre is in Makeni, Lusaka, Zambia.
We work by appointment only. We donate books, learning materials and other resources for free to those in need. If you would like to collect books or other materials to give to an under resourced school, library or community, please send us a WhatsApp message or email on: +260960753835 | Info@KatubaLiteracy.net
We also welcome financial contributions to assist with transportation and other operational costs. We are also in need of donations of especially children’s books and school supplies.
Katuba Literacy & Outreach Centre 