By Alexandria Moore, COO

This month marks seven years since the opening of our first library in Ndejje, Uganda. Much has changed since then. The Literate Earth Project has evolved over the years to meet new challenges and deepen our impact on literacy in Uganda. 

 Reflecting on my time with this organization has led me to one major takeaway: Lasting change requires an iterative approach.

 Since 2013, LEP has used lessons learned as a means of becoming a more effective partner. We adjusted our scope to better demonstrate libraries' impact on Ugandan primary schools. We created a community-centric model to strengthen our partnerships and build a sense of ownership for each project. To demonstrate our impact, we organized comprehensive assessments to showcase improvements in literacy rates. 

 More recently, we've continued this iterative process by placing a larger emphasis on the role of books within the classroom. Access to books and resources within the confines of a school library is impactful, but what would it mean if we could expand that reach into every classroom? 

 In an effort to broaden the impact of each library, LEP will now incorporate mini class libraries within each school room. To strengthen this initiative, we have partnered with PANGEA to provide comprehensive literacy training for every teacher at our partner schools. We are confident these developments will help to elevate our current model and create a greater impact on literacy rates nationwide.

 In late 2020 we are set to open our 17th library. After several iterations, The Literate Earth Project has made significant progress on our path toward improving literacy within Uganda. That said, we have so much further still to go in making an impact on the lives of Ugandan children. 

 If you would like to join us on our mission to create this lasting change, reach out to get involved or donate today!