First public library opens in South Sudan, advocates for peace

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[Juba, South Sudan, TCT, By guest reporter, Philip Buda] South Sudan Library Foundation has opened the first public library in the country. The national non-governmental organization is working with support from donors, partners and well-wishers on initiative meant to help scholars in their research and to provide healing to the traumatized in the community.

[Juba, South Sudan, TCT, By guest reporter, Philip Buda] South Sudan Library Foundation has opened the first public library in the country. The national non-governmental organization is working with support from donors, partners and well-wishers on initiative meant to help scholars in their research and to provide healing to the traumatized in the community.

The Juba Peace Library is the first public library of its kind in the nation, co-founder of South Sudan Library Foundation Mr. Yawusa Daud Kintha said in an exclusive interview with the City Review Weekly newspaper in Juba.

The new library is an idea of young South Sudanese scholars from the United States who pursued their studies in the US and have come back home to serve their country.

Yawusa Daud said they are focusing on establishing the best public library in the country.

“The South Sudan Library Foundation is looking into building a huge, modern, well designed and stocked library, complete with a research centre that will help scholars pursuing their graduate and post-graduate studies when undertaking their research,” Daud said.

The library opened on 1st October 2019 ahead of its official inauguration anticipated to take place in few months. It will be themed “Gain knowledge to Overcome Life Challenges”.

The opening was witnessed by scores of school pupils, members of the public and stakeholders at its premises in Gudele.

Daud said the peace library shall offer psycho-social support to heal those with trauma, a serious problem given the civil war that has hit the young nation so hard, claiming many lives and forcing many out of their homes as refugees who have sought shelter in internally displaced people (IDP) camps.

Kevin T Lenahan, one of the-founders, told the City Review that they have managed to get 15,000 books to start, and are looking to increasing them to around 30,000 books.

They also plan to procure 50 computers for after-school programmes. Lenahan said they are partnering with some community-based organizations (CBOs), non-governmental organizations(NGOs) and businessmen that are willing to offer developmental support to the community.

These partners are expected to help upgrade the peace library and provide some additional services such as opening up a movie screening area, and a cafe.

Lenahan added that the library will open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM and on Sundays from noon to 5:00PM. He encouraged the general public to make use of the library at their convenience, especially the youth who are idle, to spend some quality time at the library learning new knowledge. 

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