Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Parishes, Catholic communities, schools, hospitals, prisons, centres for leprosy patients in 9 African countries and 4 Asian countries received sets of books on learning to read and write, instruction and formation, as part of a “Library Project” launched by the Daughters of Saint Paul DSP with the help of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Sets of books were sent to 9 of the poorest countries in Africa, Angola, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, and 4 countries in Asia (Taiwan, Philippines, India, Pakistan), a total 528 sets of books were sent to Africa and 483 sets of books went to Asia.
In each of the involved countries the DSP Sisters besides proposing, preparing and delivering the books, also organised short courses to train local librarians to run the libraries. The books are on a variety of subjects, history, geography, maths, science, practical information for daily living, particularly useful for the people in these countries, as well as books on health and the right to healthcare and leaflets on how to keep small domestic animals.
The “Library Project” is proving to be a great success as it is clear from the numerous ‘thank you’ letters addressed to the Italian Bishops’ Conference and to the Daughters of Saint Paul. A letter from Mamoeramanjaka School in Madagascar reads: “We are happy to be able to encourage our pupils to read more to foster their intellectual and cultural development”. Fr Vincent Hsin Di Li writes from an earthquake affected area of Taiwan: “The library is helping to improve our community’s level of culture, particularly for the children who now have the opportunity for good reading here where there is little entertainment and culture is backward”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 31/8/2006; Righe 23; Parole 325)
