Camel Libraries - Girls Reading to Succeed

Pakistan’s first camel library was launched in October 2020 in Kech, Mand, Balochistan with funds from Judith’s Reading Room and the Female Education Trust as implementing partners. It was a huge success and more friends joined hands to replicate this exciting idea of taking books to children in far flung areas/villages.

Alif Laila/ IBBY Pakistan’s first camel library was called “Roshan” (Bright). After Roshan, we were able to set up 5 more camel libraries, Aman (Peace), Chiragh(Light), Raunaq(Glory), Khushi (Happiness) and Umeed (Hope) in different areas of Gwadar, Balochistan and Thar, Sindh. Last month we were able to launch one more camel library , named Mashal (lamp) in Loralai district of Balochistan province. This camel

library is funded by the Scheherazade Foundation.

Each Camel library has one pocket library along with 500 books, a set of puppets and props along with a portable hanging puppet theatre, as well as rugs and cushions for children to sit on. After the first three months of implementation we were able to raise funds and provide two libraries with Tech Bags. These wondrous bags contain four tablets and solar panel batteries to keep them charged, and screen audio/video aids for the children who do not have access to either books or any form of digital learning in the areas they live in. Since access to the internet is an issue, pre- recorded material was loaded on the tablets for the children to learn from, and enjoy. 

The books in the library are carefully chosen and many are related to the environment. The audio/video aids sent in the “Tech Bags“ has a folder of eco-friendly resources. Our entire environment related resources, books, audio/video aids encourages students to investigate how and why things happen, and make their own decisions about complex environmental issues. By developing and enhancing critical and creative thinking skills, it will help foster a new generation of informed consumers, workers, as well as policy or decision makers.

In the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh, using camels is the most efficient method of transporting goods, and adding books to their repertoire gives the camels in the area newer paths to tread.

The Camel Caravan has to date benefited more than 3500 children in 25 to 30 different villages/communities. The idea of a camel library is eco-friendly, generates love and respect for animals, provides money earning opportunities for camel owners, and most importantly is a means of spreading knowledge.

Gladly, this service is very popular and there haven’t been any negative responses in the communities/ villages so far. Children get very excited and they love the camel bringing books for them. Each camel travels between 5 to 8 kilometers on every visit. The camel herders and volunteer librarians have to travel 10km on foot from their home base regularly. 

Some of the challenges of working with animals as compared to machinery are that it’s an animal, it takes more time and they need to be fed whereas its ecofriendly and there’s no fuel consumption involved. The age groups vary in every area mostly between 4 to 16 years. Books are being issued to children who can read and there is a register that is kept for records as well. Every session is 90 minutes long in each village. 

With your kind support we are in the process of planning and developing three more camel libraries that will be running soon. 

A big thank you to all our generous donors for helping us to take books where there were none and making tomorrow brighter and better for the children of Pakistan.