Mbife Foundation- Libraries and Reading programs

Hi,

I am Emily, I am the principal author and publisher at Mbife Books. I am also an Education Advisor and Post-Graduate Researcher.

My area of expertise; Inclusion as it pertains to race, education and literature.

I founded the Mbife Foundation in 2023 to meet the critical need of increasing literacy and access to books for children in The Gambia.

Thanks to community fundraising we opened the first Mbife Childrens Community Library in December 2023, which stocks a wide range of books promoting inclusive and diverse literature to develop children’s wellbeing and love of reading. The library categories, cover an array of relevant topics’ including inclusion, socio-emotional skills, feminism and disabilities.

Our plan is to open many more Community Childrens libraries across the country. The libraries will ensure that children will be able to enjoy stories and books that stimulate their creativity and language abilities and at the heart of it all the African diasporan culture and experience will be celebrated.

Through our community we will:

• Increase access to books to children of The Gambia in community libraries and schools.

• Promote a culture of reading among children of The Gambia.

• Increase access to childrens books in Gambian national languages

• Publish more children’s books which reflect Gambian experiences.

• Increase literacy skills, critical thinking and creativity.

At Mbife we believe the strength of a community can move mountains, we hope you will join our community.