Meru youth have been urged to embrace reading culture to empower themselves with new technologies in line with the highly competitive global market.
Speaking during the graduation of 48 youth who have been undergoing Information Communication Technology (ICT) training at the Kenya National Library Meru Branch, Librarian Richard Wanjohi regretted that majority of the youth do not like reading.
He however noted that more than 3,000 youth have been trained on ICT at the facility since 2017.
Wanjohi noted that apart from the ICT skills, they have also been training the youth on identifying their talents.
“This is our 15th graduation ceremony and we are happy that the youth are embracing our programmes. We also conduct talent shows where we help them nurture their skills away from books,” he said.
He said that the library also runs the “Uzuri” Empowerment Hub where girls aged 18 to 25 years are taught how to deal with peer pressure and handle mental health issues.
Wanjohi said they are also supporting schools to set up libraries.
“We donate books to the schools and train the teachers and the students or pupils on how to manage their libraries,” the librarian said.
Elizabeth Karimi, a teacher at Kinoru Day Secondary School, one of the schools set to benefit with a library, said the reading culture helps students do research when pursuing higher education.
“When one develops a reading culture, it becomes easy for them when they join tertiary institutions and universities. Reading also keeps the youth busy and it could help reduce the mental health challenges that are being experienced in our communities.” Karimi said.
By John Majau
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