Project Update: Start A Library Trust Is Helping Children in Kenya Build Confidence Through Books

GO Campaign partner Start A Library Trust was recently featured on EdTech Mondays Kenya, alongside Storymoja, in a conversation about how storytelling, school libraries, and creative EdTech tools are helping improve foundational literacy in Kenyan schools.

The episode highlights what GO Local Hero Evelyn Mwandia understands deeply from her own life: access to books can change the way a child sees themselves and their future.

Led by GO Local Hero Evelyn Mwandia, Start A Library Trust was born from her own experience growing up in a remote village in Kitui County, Kenya, where books were scarce and girls’ education was not always prioritized. After discovering the power of books later in life, Evelyn built Start A Library Trust to help children in underserved communities find confidence, curiosity, and opportunity through reading.

GO Campaign is currently supporting Start A Library Trust’s Imarisha Clubs, life skills book clubs in three primary schools where the organization has already established libraries. Through the project, students in grades 4–6 participate in structured reading activities, receive Kusoma Bags to share books at home, and benefit from additional storybooks added to their school libraries. Parents are also engaged through workshops on positive parenting and supporting literacy at home.

In its first phase, the project has signed MOUs with three schools, recruited learners, distributed Kusoma Bags to 158 students, held parent workshops, completed baseline assessments, procured 900 culturally relevant storybooks, and established monitoring and safeguarding systems.

With strong school ownership, engaged parents, and motivated learners, the Imarisha Clubs are creating a strong foundation for lasting literacy, confidence, and leadership outcomes.

Watch the full EdTech Mondays Kenya episode to learn more about how Start A Library Trust and Storymoja are helping close Kenya’s reading gap.