In far-flung Garo Hills of Tura in Meghalaya, a rustic library made of bamboo and thatch comes to life with children and young adults reading books, playing board games, taking part in storytelling sessions and loads of other fun-filled activities.
The Garo Hills are ‘insurgency-declared’ areas. There are shadows of fear, uncertainty and violence in the air and lives of people. The unstable political conditions force the inhabitants to lead restricted lives. Parents fear to send their children out and they end up becoming addicted to mobile phones or television. This becomes a hindrance for the children to enjoy their childhood.
Libraries help create a better society. Through 100 Story House Jemimah and her husband dream of a peaceful future for Meghalaya. Reading books and storytelling are considered powerful activities in the learning and exchanging of ideas. Books broaden the horizons of children’s imagination and they grow into individuals who lead social change.
The library has collection of over 800 books, including classics, encyclopedias, dictionaries, comics, general fiction etc. Publication houses Pratham Books and Scholastic have contributed to the collection. Children are allowed to borrow books at a nominal registration fees. Along with the tantalising smell of the books and the magical world they contain, the library is always brimming with warm love and affection of Jemimah’s pet dogs Bandit, Nani, Fashion, and a family of cats.
Source and Credit:https://yourstory.com/2017/07/library-for-children/