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original Read for Life program, which is a Literacy and Library program for school age children.
The majority of the children we work with in Katanga go to poorly resourced and overcrowded
schools, so many fall through the gaps when it comes to literacy. Our goal is to create a culture
of young people that love to read and are able to read well and gain knowledge through
reading that will take them further in life. We have around 200 children regularly attending our
Read for Life program. From that, all our other major projects flow – so for someone to attend
one of our other programs, they should have a family member regularly attending Read for
Life. This enables us to help the whole family and to continue to motivate the whole family to
encourage the child to continue with their education.

We have a variety of programs to impact the families we work with. Our Skills for Life program is
a 12-month program that provides income generating skills. Throughout the program, partici-
pants focus on one skill, along with business skills, budgeting, relationship guidance, WASH
program and a variety of other teaching resources. At the end of 12 months every student
receives a startup business kit relevant to the skill they have learnt. They continue to receive help
and support after they have graduated.

Mbuyu Businesses aim to support our programs. When people purchase from Mbuyu Designs –
the beautiful items are made from the men and women who have graduated our programs.
Mbuyu Catering and Events employs those who have graduated our catering class. When you
book a cake, a catering job or decorating job through us, you are providing income to one of
our graduates, while also allowing the program to continue with all profits going straight back
into the Skills for Life program.
Adult Literacy runs throughout the week, with beginners, intermediate and advanced class. We
have adults who never even did any schooling and need to be shown how to hold a pencil, all
the way up to adults who did some high school classes but had to stop due to a lack of
finances.

It’s so incredibly exciting to see people gaining reading and writing skills, and also the
confidence to stand in front of others and express themselves. Being able to read and write

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