When we were talking to some of the frequent flyers at Nakivale’s library, many of them requested activities that would develop a stronger sense of team bonding and collaboration with their peers. We wanted to organize something for them that would not only help with bonding, but to help develop critical thinking and confidence, too.
So we set out to create a good old fashioned debate club! We got 20 young people from Oruchinga Refugee Settlement together with 20 young people from Nakivale and posed the question: “Has technology changed our reading habits?”
Both sides expressed their views on technology versus reading habits. Some participants said that there is limited access to books in both Nakivale and Oruchinga because the library is only accessed by the people who live nearby. They expressed the need for mini libraries and outreach in even the furthest parts of the camp.
At the end of the debate, the participating groups received French-English dictionaries and counter books. Each member received a diary and a pen to support in writing daily activities.
Ashe, from United reading club-Nakivale said that “this debate has helped us to gain confidence! I have never met people from Oruchinga but today I have met them.”
“I am so happy that I was able to come to Nakivale to see the library and express my ideas,” said Florence from Oruchinga.
