Zimbabwe Norton Bookfeeding

Our first library in Zimbabwe is located about 50km from its capital, Harare. The community got to know about our charity when Alena was on her journey through Africa - spreading the word about Bookfeeding. About a year later (2016) the Norton Community Library was opened. And was it a ceremony - even the Canadian ambassador was at the opening!

Our library is located at a vocational school in Norton. The school was built by, and continues to be part of development efforts of a local organization called Simuka, a volunteering group of university students established in 2006. The mission of the organization is to provide services and facilities that enable young people to realize their fullest potential. Simuka is also involved in fighting to end child marriage and to offer an alternative to the girls by providing them with the education and life skills needed to help them find jobs and become independent young women. In addition to this, Simuka helps local orphanages, teaches better agricultural practices, runs a vocational school and organizes many other activities.

There are a number of schools and high schools in the area, so our library is serving as a safe educational hub to many students and adults. It is mainly visited by the youth in Norton; youth who are looking for possibilities to learn new, crucial skills needed to get a job or start a business. Since the opening the library has been growing at a steady pace - it secured a grant to construct a bigger community library and shortly after it was donated a bigger land by Norton Town Council. The plan is to build a more spacious library, which is currently under construction and should be finished by mid-August 2022.

We are always looking for volunteers to come and stay at our libraries. Norton also offers such an opportunity. The volunteer would be accommodated with one of the local families for authentic experience, close proximity to the library and all the related facilities. The accommodation is available at the rate of US$15 per day per person inclusive of food, utility bills, and a seperate bedroom with a bed and blanket. If you would like to be part of such a wonderful community please contact us. You pay directly to the people that accommodate you, Bookfeeding only facilitates this exchange and receives no fees from the volunteers neither from the community for this. 100% of your contribution goes directly to the community.

People at the Project

Ezekiel

Ezekiel is the man behind most of the Simuka’s activities. He is energetic, always somewhere in the field working on new projects and helping communities. Ezekiel is one of the founding members of Simuka Africa.

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Current Needs: Business/entrepreneurship books, computer books, technical books
Established: June 2016
Languages: English, Shona
Accepting volunteers: Yes
Local Partner: Simuka Africa