A free community library wants to reduce child street hawking and social vices in Ajegunle
"Further demonstrating the project’s impact, Grace shared an anecdote about a parent who recently moved from Ajegunle and whose child inquired about a “Mrs Grace library” in their new neighbourhood."
Grace Chinenye Nkwocha was leaving the community library in Ajegunle, which is currently being renovated by Transforming Lives and Communities Initiative (TLCI), an NGO she leads. She was going to say goodbye to a kind sponsor when she heard familiar voices shouting her name. Two children, aged between 10 and 12, who used to frequent the library, excitedly called out to her.
Turning to look, she was startled by the sight of the children hawking, their hands clutching small wares containing fruits. This echoed the stories of other library users she had recently encountered, who had spoken of their return to hawking after school.
“I was bitter, pained to say the least, but I hid these feelings from them cos I know it’s that same plague called poverty.”, she wrote in another series of Facebook posts seeking the public’s attention for donations for the community library’s renovation.
Grac…
