UBA Foundation seeks to re-ignite reading culture
On September 22, 2023, the UBA Foundation through UBA Kenya visited Miritini Complex Secondary School and Miritini Junior Secondary School, located in Mombasa County.
Its executive director for Kenya, Mary Mulili says, the foundation, which is dedicated to education and literacy, presented 250 setbooks from notable African authors. She said ‘Segu’ by Maryse Conde and ‘The Kaya Girl’ by Mamle Wolo setbooks are not just a source of knowledge, but also a portal to new worlds and opportunities for the students.
With a mission to rekindle the dwindling reading culture amongst African youths, the Read Africa initiative is focused on empowering students with knowledge and enhancing their vocabulary and communication skills through the magic of books.
“We believe that education is the cornerstone of progress, and reading is the gateway to a brighter future,”said Ms Mulili. “A highly educated and well-informed youth is critical to the future of Africa. Quality education is therefore crucial in developing the manpower needed by Africa to exploit emerging opportunities and propel the continent to higher levels of development.”
Besides the lender’s non-executive director, Moses Obonyo, the event witnessed the presence of Dr. Mwarali Kame Mbaramad, Mombasa County Executive Committee Member, Education and Digital Transformation and County Executive Committee Member representative from Water, Natural Resources and Climate Change.
The foundation’s commitment to education has to date made a significant impact, with more than 100,000 books and educational materials donated to various schools across the African continent. This contribution underscores UBA’s unwavering dedication to nurturing the intellectual growth of African youths, thereby contributing positively to the development of the continent.
Miritini Complex Secondary School and Junior High School staff and students expressed their gratitude for the valuable donation, recognizing the transformative power of books in shaping their minds.
“We are deeply grateful to the UBA Foundation for this thoughtful gesture. These books will not only enrich our students’ lives but also help them become lifelong learners and confident communicators,” the school’s principal Gitonga Mbaka, said.
To grace the event, a total of 300 indigenous trees were planted in line with the Government’s agenda to plant 30 billion trees by 2030 and as part of UBA’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
The tree seedlings included Gmelina arborea locally known as gamhar, acacia tree and Azadirachta indica locally known as neem tree. This initiative not only helps to preserve the environment but also inculcates the students with a sense of responsibility.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go,” said Mbaka.
Established in 2004, the foundation is committed to making sustainable social impact across Africa. It also strives to improve the lives of people and communities in education, healthcare, environment, and economic empowerment through various initiatives and partnerships.
