A reading space will open its doors for children of the crowded Poonthura coastal locality in the district this week.
Kanal, a youth organisation, is setting up a ‘Vayanayidam’ at Manalpuram, near the Poonthura school. The facility, being opened in association with Cherurashmi, a voluntary organisation, is the first being set up by Kanal in the district and fifth in the State. It runs four libraries — three at Agali in Attappady and one at Kavungal in Vettikavala, Kollam district, with the support of the National Rural Livelihood Mission.
Kanal’s plans to open such reading spaces in tribal hamlets in the district, starting with Puruvimala in Amboori panchayat, did not take off owing to various reasons. In the wake of various activities it conducted at Poonthura, it found a lot of potential for such a facility in bring about a difference in the lives of the children, especially in the areas of education and social participation.
Nearly 700 books collected during Ezhutthani, a book fund campaign at Government College for Women, Vazhuthacaud, will be used to set up the library. Children will be at the helm of all activities, be it book issue or maintaining registers. The books will be free to be used by them as they please — for pleasure, reference, to cut or draw in them.
The walls of the library have been painted by the children as part of a drawing programme conducted in the area. A major portion of the books is children’s literature. Comics and magazines will also be available. A book collection drive is also under way in the locality.
Awareness programmes
Kanal president Anson P.D. Alexander says the Vayanayidam is meant to be a library where children come and read, but also a space which they will eventually adopt and transform for a host of other activities. Awareness programmes on various issues relevant to children will also be organised — again by the children.
The Vayanayidam will be inaugurated by Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh at Cherurashmi’s centre at Poonthura on Saturday. Deepa Sankar, chief of education at Unicef, Uzbekistan, will deliver a special message on the occasion.
