The
organisation’s
work
was
noticed
through
a
book
published
in
2024
to
mark
its
tenth
anniversary.
This
accolade
celebrates
the
book’s
contribution
to
education
and
social
development
and
reflects
the
impact
of
the
Trust’s
work
over
the
past
decade.
Titled
Uniting
the
World
for
Rural
School
Library
Development,
the
book
was
intended
to
mark
the
Trust’s
10-year
milestone
of
mobilising
books
for
over
100
rural
schools
and
advocating
for
the
establishment
of
libraries
in
schools
in
Zimbabwe.
Several
individuals
and
former
students’
associations
were
inspired
to
build
libraries
at
rural
schools
they
or
their
parents
went
through
the
organisation’s
Know
Your
Roots
campaign,
which
encouraged
people
to
give
back
to
their
communities.
The
book
also
highlights
initiatives
such
as
sponsoring
an
orphaned
student
to
complete
high
school,
running
reading
promotion
programs,
producing
a
musical
album
to
encourage
literacy,
and
advocating
for
national
library
policy
reform
through
engagement
with
the
Zimbabwean
government.
Edited
by
Dr.
Eric
Boamah,
a
Ghanaian
national
who
lectures
at
the
Open
Polytechnic
of
New
Zealand,
the
publication
includes
chapters
written
by
the
late
Tonderayi
Chanakira,
Zimbabwe’s
Minister
of
Skills
Audit
and
Development,
Professor
Paul
Mavima,
former
Minister
of
Information
and
Communication
Technology
Advocate
Nelson
Chamisa,
ladies
who
studied
at
benefiting
schools,
namely
Rufaro
Marbo
Lunga,
who
did
her
Ordinary
level
studies
at
Igava
High
School
in
Wedza,
and
Kudzaishe
Mungwena,
a
former
student
at
Batanai
High
School
in
Gokwe.
The
former
President
of
the
International
Federation
of
Library
Associations
and
Institutions
(IFLA),
Barbara
Lison,
wrote
the
preface,
while
Professor
Tinashe
Mugwisi
of
the
National
University
of
Science
and
Technology
did
the
foreword.
Other
contributors
include
Mr.
Macdonald
Nhakura,
Mr.
Carren
Musada,
Dr.
Kudakwashe
Tuwe,
Dr.
Josiline
Chigada,
Dr.
Shadreck
Ndinde,
Mr.Kudakwashe
Muchenje,
Mr.
Bert
Nyabadza,
Dr.
Eric
Boamah,
and
Mr.
Driden
Kunaka.
With
such
a
diverse
array
of
contributors,
the
book
covers
a
wide
range
of
interests,
giving
an
in-depth
coverage
of
factors
influencing
the
state
of
school
libraries,
particularly
in
the
rural
areas
of
Zimbabwe.
It
provides
solutions
to
the
slow
growth
of
school
libraries
and
recommends
legislative
reforms
to
ensure
adequate
attention
is
given
to
school
library
development.
Officially
launched
in
Zimbabwe
by
the
Minister
of
Primary
and
Secondary
Education,
Dr.
Torerayi
Moyo,
and
in
Australia
by
the
Deputy
Mayor
of
the
City
of
Belmont,
Councillor
Deborah
Sessions,
the
book
is
available
online
from
Amazon.
In
Zimbabwe,
hard
copies
can
be
obtained
from
Mr.
Macdonald
Nhakura,
who
can
be
reached
on
+263
77
304
8590.
The
Zimbabwe
Rural
Schools
Library
Trust
was
registered
as
a
Charitable
Trust
in
Zimbabwe
in
2012
and
in
New
Zealand
in
2013.
It
rebranded
in
Zimbabwe
to
become
the
Zimbabwe
Rural
Schools
Library
Initiative
in
Zimbabwe
following
the
decision
to
register
as
a
Private
Voluntary
Organisation
in
2023,
as
Zimbabwe
legislation
does
not
allow
the
name
of
a
Private
Voluntary
Organisation
to
have
the
word
Trust
as
part
of
its
name.
The
New
Zealand
chapter
still
operates
as
Zimbabwe
Rural
Schools
Library
Trust,
but
in
Australia,
we
have
obtained
an
ABN
as
the
Zimbabwe
Rural
Schools
Library
Initiative
to
reflect
the
name
now
used
in
Zimbabwe,
the
benefiting
country.
Chairperson
of
the
Zimbabwe
Rural
Schools
Library
Initiative
in
Zimbabwe,
Dr.
Josiline
Chigwada,
says
the
accolade
is
testimony
of
the
hard
work
that
has
been
done
over
the
years.
“Getting
people
who
benefited
giving
testimonies
proves
beyond
a
reasonable
doubt
that
we
are
on
course
to
do
greater
things.
We
thank
all
the
authors,
advertisers,
and
donors
who
made
this
book
a
reality,”
she
said.
Post
published
in:
Featured