YWCA Children’s Library
THE YWCA CHILDREN’S LIBRARY
Every child deserves a sanctuary of hope, learning, and inspiration, a place where their dreams can take flight despite the hardships they face. The YWCA Ghana’s new community children’s library in Adabraka is more than just a collection of books; it is a heartfelt commitment to nurturing young minds, fostering creativity, and providing a safe haven for children to explore, learn, and grow. In a community grappling with poverty and unemployment, this library aims to ignite a love for reading and discovery, empowering children to envision brighter futures and break free from the cycle of hardship. By bringing stories, knowledge, and community together, we are opening doors to endless possibilities for the children of Adabraka, because every child deserves a chance to shine.
Our Mission
To provide a welcoming environment for all members of the community to access knowledge, foster a love for reading, and create a space for lifelong learning. We aim to be a hub of creativity, education, and community engagement.
The Young Women’s Christian Association, (YWCA) Ghana is thrilled to introduce our brand-new community children’s library, an inspiring space designed for learning, creativity, and connection. Whether you’re here for books, events, or just a quiet place to think, this library is for you.
1. A Community Focus
A Community-Centric Approach: Our library will be fundamentally integrated with the community, addressing its needs and nurturing a sense of belonging and collective ownership. It will be accessible to everyone, ensuring that children can see themselves represented in the literature we offer.
2. Safe Space for Children
The Library will be a child friendly space, The library will provide a welcoming environment for children, where they can feel secure while learning, exploring, and innovating. Support will be available to assist them with their reading journey.
3. Collaboration and Partnerships with Writers, Publishers, and Illustrators
Our library will facilitate engagement between YWCA Member Writers and other authors to draw visitors to the library. We will organize a range of events, such as children's workshops, book readings, and signings, to enhance our literary community. This initiative aims to connect children and readers with authors and creators, encouraging discussions about beloved stories and characters, while fostering a love for writing in young minds and providing a platform for writers, illustrators, and publishers.
In the future we envisage the following:
4. Lifelong Learning
The YWCA library aims to serve as a resource for individuals of all ages and backgrounds, including children, their parents and guardians, and adolescents, fostering an environment for learning, growth, and the exploration of innovative concepts, thereby encouraging intellectual curiosity and lifelong education.
5. Innovation and Technology
As the project progresses, we will adopt contemporary technologies and creative strategies to improve our services, equipping users with the necessary tools to remain informed and actively involved, such as enhancing computer literacy.
CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
We will work to ensure that the library becomes a hub for cultural activities and events, offering diverse programs and resources that connect inner city people with their communities and the wider world.
The YWCA Community Library and its Environs. The Community Library is situated in the YWCA headquarters in Adabraka , Accra, No 46 Castle Road. Adabraka was the most affluent area in the 1950’s known for its commercial activities and proximity to government institutions and private firms. (This is evident from the old buildings, the roads, and the number of and types of institutions for example: The ministries, the Museum, TUC, the Cathedral, the Banks)
Currently, the Adabraka community (Korley Klottey Municipal in general) faces issues like youth unemployment and the emergence of informal settlements .
Adabraka, while vibrant, has 10.6% of its population living in multidimensional poverty , with an average poverty intensity of 43.4%. The community is also facing significant challenges, including extreme poverty, where many elderly individuals live alone without assistance, lack adequate food, and a considerable number of children who are not enrolled in school.