Children's Libraries in Ghana Receive Gift from the Church

Children and staff gathered at the Mamprobi Gale Community Library on 29 April, 2025, to celebrate with drums and dance a donation of books, computers, and furniture from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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The Mamprobi Gale Community Library is one of 9 branches that make up the Kathy Knowles Community Libraries that primarily serve children in Accra, offering a safe and engaging environment for learning and personal development. The primary mission of these libraries is to encourage literacy and foster a love of reading among children, and the library's programs are designed to enhance reading skills, comprehension, and overall academic performance. Additionally, the libraries provide adult literacy classes and free information and Communication Technology (ICT) lessons, aiming to improve digital literacy and educational opportunities for all age groups.

The library was founded with the goal of promoting literacy and access to books for children who otherwise might not have access to such resources. Many of the children and adults who benefit from the library's services come from low-income backgrounds, and the programs—such as reading clinics, ICT classes, and adult literacy lessons—are offered for free to ensure accessibility regardless of socioeconomic status.

Because these libraries focus primarily on serving the underprivileged, especially the children of Accra, the wives of the Africa West Area Presidency initiated a project to donate much needed supplies to the libraries. Sister Lucy Kyungu, wife of Elder Alfred Kyungu (Area President), sister Olufunmilayo Ojediran, wife of Elder Adeyinka Ojediran (first counsellor), and sister Hannah Morrison, wife of Elder Isaac Morrison, (second counsellor), worked with the Area Welfare and Self Reliance group to procure the needed materials.

Over 100 text books were donated, covering subjects as diverse as Math, Social Studies, Economics, Government, Law, and much more.  Eight desktop computers and a laptop, along with a projector and screen, bolstered the technological capabilities of the libraries, while new windows, ceiling fans, wooden tables, and 60 stools improved the learning environment. The donation also included some educational toys such as Legos, math cubes, and more.

In addressing those who attended the hand over ceremony, Sister Ojediran began by referencing Galatians 6:7, saying, “’For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’  You are sowing knowledge, discipline and life skills into young minds, and that harvest will bless generations. It is with this spirit that we are honored to present this gift today. It may be small compared to the great work you do, but it comes from the heart of a church that sees and values your efforts today. We invite you to take good care of it and use it for its intended purpose.”

Mrs. Kathy Knowles, the founder of the libraries receiving the donation, responded in her comments: “You are not new faces to me. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sponsored library projects for many years. Today’s gifts are huge. Before today we had one working computer, and after today we’ll have nine working computers and that’s a huge gift from your church.”

She continued, “A gift that is not seen today but is tremendously appreciated are the new windows for our library in Korle Gonno. We thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. It makes a tremendous difference to know that you care and are concerned about our library. Thank you.”

Sister Morrison took an opportunity to share her experiences as a young girl without a lot of family resources.  She told how a local library served as her home away from home where she studied regularly and faithfully, thus earning good grades and enabling her to go to college.  She admonished the children in attendance to use the library and the donated gifts for self-improvement, not just for entertainment: “I would like to encourage the young ones here. When you go to the library, instead of doing research and study, you play games. There is time for everything. If you say that you are going to the library to go and study, please be disciplined and do that.  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that libraries are sacred places. It’s a home where you can learn, grow your imaginations and be someone beautiful in the future. We have been counseled that we should seek learning from the best books. The Lord will help us to be very useful in our society.”

The hand over ceremony was interspersed with cultural performances by the children who enthusiastically displayed their skills and their culture as expressions of gratitude for the donation.