African Chapter, UN SDG Book Club
29 JANUARY 2021
It is estimated that sub Saharan Africa became the region with the highest number of births from 2015 and will continue to be in this position for the entire 21st century. It is also projected that between 2015-2030, the number of children (ages 0-18yrs) will increase from 496 million to 651 million. With a youthful population (average age is 19 years), Africa needs to pay more attention on how to assist the children and young people of Africa understand the importance of development and how the sustainable development goals (SDGs) are configured to make the world a better place.
A society can only be as stable and progressive as the knowledge it has access to. Now more than ever, Africa needs to build up the reading capacity and knowledge base of its youthful population to engage with information that can broaden and deepen their understanding of development issues. This makes the idea of an African Chapter of the UN SDG Book club most welcome!
The UN SDG Book Club was launched in 2019 in collaboration with International Publishers Association (IPA), International Federation for Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), International Authors Forum (IAF) and International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
Now, the African Chapter of the UN SDG Book club is readying for launch with UN and IPA working with African Publishers Network (APNET), Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), Borders Literature Online, and African Booksellers Association (PABA). The Book Club aims at helping children (6-12yrs+) understand the SDGs through literary works (fiction and non-fiction). This will make them internalise the ideas and core values of an inclusive transformed world where the 17 Goals are achievable in all African communities.
What can African public and community Libraries do?
Photo credit: Sunitha Ayesha Richard
- Have a SDG Book Club corner where the books for each Goal can be prominently displayed and accessible to children. The corner will also host the books on the reading list for each Goal.
- Form a SDG book club in your library and run activities that would promote the reading of books for each Goal. Stir the imagination and curiosity of children that will lead to questioning and exploring how the attainment of each Goal will affect their lives positively.
- Work with children and help them create their own stories about SDGS on open license digital platforms.
- Participate in the conversation online about the African Chapter, UN SDG Book Club.
The Public and Community Libraries Section, AfLIA, will design and publicize activities of the Book Club. More information about the UN SDG Book Club can be accessed here.