When we built the library in 2007/2008 a library is only a building without books. At the time there were very few publishing houses in Africa and the ones that did exist printed mostly text books for schools and universities. At the time we had little choice but to ship books out from the UK. Thanks to generous donations and free shipping we were able to deliver over 5,000 books to the newly built library. We gave the teachers a manual written by VSO on how to run a library in a developing country and assumed that all would be good. But on our next visit it was clear that no progress had been made - many of the books were still in their cardboard boxes and the ones that were on bookshelves were stacked on top of each other. Talking to staff and pupils they clearly were only interested in learning to read the words that they needed to pass the PLE exams -partly because Africa has a oral culture rather than a reading culture. So we funded a “librarian” rather than relying on the teachers. The school appointed a retired teacher from a neighbouring school. The following trip again little progress had been made and it was clear that the library was a book depository - mostly for the school text books and our reading books were still looking very unloved. We then understood that our understanding of a library and their understanding was different - dynamic literacy hub v book depository. Not giving up we contacted Charles Batambuze at the National Library of Uganda and he put us in touch with a lady who worked at the National Library who knew the graduates coming out of Makerere University with BSc in Librarianship and IT. We explained what we needed and Evelyn arrived. Evelyn was a breath of fresh air and swept into the library not only getting the books up on to the shelves but organising spelling quizzes, a school magazine, debating, games etc etc. Class Library lessons were put on to the timetable - but still the girls were not actively engaging with independent reading outside of the classroom. We had heard that the government was keen for teachers to teach phonetically but when asked the St Michael’s teachers said that they had not been trained in phonics. We found a phonics training course up in Northern Uganda and two teachers - Margaret and Lydia made the 7 hour journey to attend the 3 day course. They came back very excited. We are really blessed that thanks to them and the training that they have done with other teachers that St Michael’s now teaches phonetically and all girls are really good readers. The girls love coming into the Library -it is the heart of the school between lessons and after school and is always a hive of activity.

The number of publishing houses in Africa has grown and we now buy books that are culturally African - mostly English but some Lusoga books. We have a few e-readers - but printed books are better.

We measure success of our phonics teaching by the PLE Exam results in Primary 7 - all the girls get Grade 1 and Grade 2 and the excellent end of first term English marks that they get at their secondary school - the norm for St Michael’s girls is over 70%

When we visit from the UK time is always spent in the library and it is always wonderful to have a large group crowding around desperate to take their turn to read a page - sometimes reading upside down!

We are wanting to roll out what we have learnt at St Michael’s to the other primary schools we are going to support in Bugweri - as literacy levels are too low - 90% of 10 year olds cannot read, write or do a simple arithmetic. - in a District north of Bugweri the literacy level is even lower.