Africa Book Development Organization Teams Up With The South Korean Embassy To Promote Literacy in Indigent Communities Through Donation of Books And Computers

by Czarelli Tuason / Sep 22, 2015 11:08 PM EDT

African kids reading a book | By: commerceandculturestock | Getty Images

The Africa Book Development Organization (ABDO) is collaborating with the South Korean embassy to promote and develop literacy in rural areas in South Africa. A donation of books and computers have been handed over by the embassy to the ABDO offices in Harare to fill libraries in Africa.

The Herald reported Friday that reading materials and computer devices will be distributed to the libraries of Tsholotsho and Chakri schools. At the handover ceremony, South Korean ambassador Kwon Yong Kyu discussed the great significance of helping and improving the skills of indigent communities.

"One can never re-emphasize the importance of education. Investing in education is not just the right thing to do but it is the smartest thing that one can do," said Kyu. "This is because education gives people the skills they need to help themselves out of poverty and into prosperity."

The ABDO has a vision of promoting literacy, education, gender sensitivity and cultural diversity in communities in Zimbabwe. The South Korean embassy, one of groups helping ABDO, donated books, book binder, desk top computers, laptops, and internet modems to make turn the vision into reality. These materials will be used to aid farmers and women's projects in Zimbabwe.

"The project is expected to improve the literacy levels and to alleviate poverty for more than 15 000 people in the rural areas of Chakari and Tsholotsho and it is definitely impressive," added Kyu.

Guest of honor Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Nyasha Chikwinya expressed her gratitude for the embassy's assistance. "The gesture by the government of South Korea is a welcome development as it will increase access to information and hence knowledge among the beneficiaries of these books and computers," said Chikwinya.

The ABDO is not the first organization in Africa that South Korea has extended their assistance to. On Sept. 13 Nyasa Times reported South Korean National Commission for UNESCO donated $40 million for the printing of teaching and learning materials for adult literacy classes in Malawi.

"Education is indeed a vital component in determining the future of a country," said Min Dong Seok, Secretary General of the South Korean National Commission for UNESCO "so there is no doubt about the need for strong cooperation and solidarity among the Government of Malawi, the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO and the South Korean National Commission for UNESCO in this regard."