Connecting the children to the book

Abstract

In Nigeria reading is not generally part of the culture. Children grow up even in rich families and attending schools without acknowledging books as important. Explanations include the general absence of school, public and community libraries in close proximity. Again, children rarely receive books as gifts. Pathetically, there is this category of children who do not have access to books because they are not in schools although they are of school age. These children are on the streets for their guardians as income-generating hawkers. It is this category of children that this project CONNECTING THE CHILDREN TO THE BOOK addresses, using the De Marillac Centre for Street Children as a case study.