UF student strives to enrich lives of Ugandans through books

March 27, 2007

After a summer research trip to Uganda led him to discover the country’s great need for educational resources, University of Florida geography doctoral candidate Joel Hartter decided to do something about it by helping to establish a foundation to support libraries in rural villages in the western part of the country.

Hartter and two post-doctoral fellows from the University of California, Davis, set up the Foundation for Children’s Education in Uganda, which accepts donations of new and used books and magazines.

The foundation currently supports four libraries and is working to fund more in villages throughout western Uganda. The libraries serve as a haven where Ugandans may read textbooks, novels and educational magazines written at various reading levels.

“Our most popular English-language books are written at a middle-school level,” Hartter said. “Most people only advance about as far as seventh grade, so that’s their average reading level.”

The people still tend to prefer books written in the local language Rutoro, except on story days, during which the library welcomes entire families to come and listen to stories read aloud in English, Hartter said.

Besides providing people access to books, the foundation also is dedicated to the education of women and children.

The foundation supports a nursery school to prepare Ugandan children, ages 3 to 7, for primary school. While attending classes students are taught English, which is the official language, in addition to Rutoro.

The nursery maintains a class size of about 30 students, with one village teacher who is paid by the foundation. The cost of enrollment is about $2 per term, a little more than the average Uganda worker makes each day.

Women also may attend classes to learn vocational skills like sewing, a traditionally male-dominated trade, and handcrafts. The foundation strives to offer both teaching and librarian positions to women to create job opportunities.

“We want to give these people a chance at a better life,” Hartter said. “Right now the best way we can do that is through education.”

Hartter continues to raise both books and awareness for the foundation. Last year’s book drive netted 600 pounds of books, he said.

To help or for more information on the Foundation for Children’s Education about Uganda, visit booksopentheworld.org on the Web, or contact Hartter at jhartter@ufl.edu.