Samoa: Children’s Hospital Library Completes Third Year 15 August 2011

The Samoan Association of Women Graduates (SAWG) reports that the Children’s Library is still going strong three years after its August 2008 opening in the Pediatric Ward of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital at Motootua (National Hospital). Its aim is to enhance the literacy levels of the 300 children from rural and urban areas missing school monthly because of injury or illness. The Library offers a place where the children can come to read and write, play educational games, listen to stories, and watch movies, while their mothers read magazines and local newspapers, and accompany their children in activities.

The Library features more than 2000 books and textbooks both in the Samoan and English language, educational games, toys, videos and dvds. A full-time female librarian has been employed since 2008 and SAWG members come in from time to time to do readings to the children and help out with activities. Start-up funding was provided by IFUW’s Bina Roy Partner’s in Development Programme (BRPID). Additional support has been provided by the Australian High Commissioner, Canada Fund, European Union, New Zealand High Commissioner, the Samoan Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, Digicel Ltd and the Samoa International Finance Authority (SIFA). The Children’s Hospital is an excellent BRPID success story.