Concept Note – Mama Africa Book Box

REF: Mama Africa Book Box (MABB) Initiative by CLC Kenya

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

We are glad to extend to you an invitation of partnership towards impacting lives in our sphere through Christian literature. We recognize and appreciate the opportunity that exists to honour God by impacting young lives through Christian literature.

This is through the Christian Union fellowships in our schools. At CLC Kenya, we seek to provide children with opportunities and hope through literature so that they develop into exemplary citizens, leaders, and followers of Jesus.

Who Are We?

CLC Kenya is a Christian Missions organization started in 2007 to impact Kenya and Africa with Christian literature. CLC Kids and Teens, the subsidiary ministry towards children, echoes loud this vision among the children and teens ages 2-20.

 What’s Mama Africa Book Box (MABB) All About?

Mama Africa Book Box (MABB) is a reading club ministry to re-ignite a reading culture among children with a Christian perspective. Our vision is to reach to those in East Africa and beyond.

MABB provides the solution to children’s wholesome engagement of their free time other than screen time, social media, and videogames.  We aim to present leisure reading not as a bore but both educational and fun.

With fun and beautifully delivered packages and initiatives, MABB presents children with an exciting opportunity not only to love reading but also gain character growth leading up to a better relationship with Christ Jesus.

MABB endeavours to develop a reading culture in not only the young generation but also their parents. Through an exciting assortment of book packages, in addition to book centered initiatives, both parents and their children take time to enjoy interaction together and with literature. In the book package, books tailored for different ages, a character development themed notebook, a pen, bookmarks, and a certificate of completion, among many other cool ‘goodies’ await.

The encouragement to read is bolstered with lots of fun. At MABB, we believe that the journey of reading should be filled with joy and excitement. Our joyful reading Rewards Program is designed to not only encourage children to explore the world of books but also to reward them for their enthusiasm and valuable feedback. Children can redeem their points with stationery, more books, and other fun gifts depending on a child’s or teenager’s delight.

 

 

There are five levels for children and teenagers to engage with MABB by CLC Kenya

(A) Mama Africa Book Box: Reading Club (MABB-RC)

1. A subscription package for children ages 3-12 years and teenagers ages 13-20 years. The children get two books, 3 bookmarks, 1 character-themed notebook, 1 pen, 1 certificate of completion, snacks (for the convened session) or delivery (for the virtual session)

Benefits Include:

  • Monthly Book Delivery: Subscribers receive a curated package containing two age-appropriate books chosen to ignite their imagination and foster a love for reading.
  • Bookmarks: Three specially designed bookmarks are included in each package, adding a touch of creativity, and encouraging kids to mark their favorite spots in their new books.
  • Character-Themed Notebook and Pen: Each subscriber receives a character-themed notebook and a pen, providing a space for them to jot down their thoughts, creative ideas, or even start their own stories as they learn to incorporate virtues from the Bible like Love, Patience etc.
  • Certificate of Completion: A personalized certificate of completion is included in every package, celebrating the subscriber’s commitment to the joy of reading.
  • Snacks for In-Person Sessions: For the physical book club meet-up, a selection of snacks is provided to create a cozy and enjoyable reading environment.
  • Virtual Session Delivery: For virtual sessions, snacks are delivered to the subscriber’s doorstep, ensuring that they can participate in the book club experience from the comfort of their homes.

2. A physical book club meet up on the 4th Saturday of each month from 9am-12pm in Nairobi (with livestream option for the children out of Nairobi to actively engage and participate in via zoom).

Benefits Include:

  • Physical Meet-Up (Nairobi): The book club holds a physical meet-up on the 4th Saturday of each month from 9 am to 12 pm in Nairobi. This is a fun-filled event featuring interactive storytelling, book discussions, and engaging activities.
  • Livestream Option (Zoom): For subscribers outside Nairobi, a livestream option is available via Zoom, allowing them to actively participate in the book club meet-up from anywhere in the world.
  • Themed Sessions: Each month, the book club meet-up follows a unique theme, ensuring a dynamic and diverse experience for the children and teenagers involved.
  • Guest Speakers and Authors: Occasionally, the book club features guest speakers and authors who interact with the members, sharing insights and sparking inspiration.

3. A reward system to keep the children engaged. Points accumulated from reading and writing can be redeemed for more books, stationery, toys, snacks among other exciting tokens of appreciation.

Benefits Include:

  • Points Accumulation: Subscribers earn points through active participation, including reading books, writing reviews, and engaging in book-related activities.
  • Redemption Options: Accumulated points can be redeemed for a variety of exciting rewards such as additional books, stationery, toys, snacks, and other delightful tokens.
  • Monthly Points Statements: Subscribers receive monthly points statements, keeping them informed about their progress and encouraging them to stay engaged in the reading club activities.

(B) Mama Africa Book Box: Revolving Libraries (MABB-ReLi)

Empowering children in low-income and marginalized communities by providing access to a revolving library experience through Mama Africa Book Box: Revolving Libraries (MABB-ReLi), fostering a love for reading and learning. Through the Christian Union Fellowship in schools, we provide books to not only grow children’s readership desire but impact their lives for Christ.

Benefits Include:

  • Access to Diverse Books: Provide children in underserved communities access to a diverse range of books that cater to various interests, cultures, and educational needs.
  • Cost-Effective Reading Experience: Bridge the gap for families with financial constraints by offering a subsidized revolving library service like the monthly book box, ensuring children can enjoy a plethora of books without the burden of ownership.
  • Community Engagement: Establish community partnerships and engage local volunteers to facilitate the distribution and maintenance of MABB-ReLi, creating a sense of ownership and community involvement.
  • Christian Faith: Focus on preaching the Gospel of Jesus by encouraging regular book exchanges and reading activities within the community, promoting a culture of continuous learning.
  • Educational Support: Collaborate with local educators to align book selections with educational goals, providing supplementary materials that complement school curricula and encourage educational development.
  • Cultural Sensitivity: Curate book selections from African christian authors to improve culture-sensitive, inclusive, and reflective of the diverse backgrounds of the communities served, promoting a positive cultural identity among the children.

How It Works:

  • Mobile Revolving Libraries: Establish mobile MABB-ReLi units that can be easily transported to different community locations, ensuring accessibility to children in various areas.
  • Monthly Book Swaps: Organize monthly book exchange events, where children can swap their read books for new ones, promoting a sense of community and encouraging sustained interest in reading.
  • Local Partnerships: Collaborate with local schools, children homes, community centers, and NGOs to identify children who would benefit most from MABB-ReLi and establish convenient distribution points.
  • Volunteer Network: Recruit and train volunteers from within the community to assist with book distribution, collection, and organizing literacy-focused events.
  • Digital Engagement: Develop a digital platform to complement the physical MABB-ReLi experience, providing resources, reading challenges, and interactive content to enhance the overall reading engagement.
  • Reading Logs: Implement a system for children to keep reading logs, tracking the number of books read and sharing their thoughts on each, encouraging a sense of accomplishment.
  • School Performance Monitoring: Collaborate with local schools to monitor the academic progress of participating children, looking for correlations between increased access to leisure books and improved educational outcomes.
  • Community Surveys: Conduct periodic surveys within the communities served to gather feedback, understand the impact of MABB-ReLi, and identify areas for improvement.
  • Loyalty program (as outlined in A(3) above to keep reading fun.

(C) Mama Africa Book Box: Guided Writing Mentorship (MABB-GWM)

Mama Africa Book Box: Guided Writing Mentorship (MABB-GWM) is a writing program for children interested in writing and publishing books from ages 5-20.  The program aims to nurture the creative spirit of young writers, providing them with the tools, guidance, and community support needed to flourish in their writing journey. Through weekly assignments, online mentorship meetings, and the prospect of publishing, MABB-GWM empowers children and teenagers to express their unique voices and become published authors.

1. Weekly Writing Assignments:

  • Tailored Assignments: Weekly writing assignments designed to cater to different age groups (children 5-12 years and teenagers 3-20 years), ensuring they are age-appropriate and challenging enough to stimulate creativity.
  • Follow-Up Sessions: Regular follow-up sessions to provide feedback on the assignments, address questions, and offer guidance. This ensures a personalized and supportive learning environment.

2. Monthly Online Mentorship Meetings:

  • Age-Specific Sessions: Online mentorship meetings held on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Separate sessions for children aged 5-12 (9 am – 9:30 am) and teenagers aged 13-20 (9:30 am – 10:30 am). These sessions provide a platform for interactive discussions, mentor guidance, and sharing ideas.
  • Guest Authors and Writing Experts: Inviting guest authors and writing experts to the mentorship meetings, exposing young writers to diverse perspectives and valuable insights from professionals in the field.

3. Blog Space on Websites:

  • Personalized Blog Spaces: Setting up individual blog spaces on the Mama Africa Book Box website for participants to showcase their weekly assignments. This encourages a sense of pride and accomplishment in their writing journey.
  • Community Interaction: Creating a supportive online community where participants can read and comment on each other’s work, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual encouragement.

4. Compilation of Weekly Assignments:

  • Year-End Book Compilation: Compiling the best pieces from each participant’s weekly assignments to create a collaborative book at the end of the year. This collaborative effort not only celebrates the children’s achievements but also reinforces the sense of community within MABB-GWM.
  • Discounted Publishing Opportunity: Offering participants the opportunity to publish their individual books at a discounted cost in the following year. This provides a tangible outcome for their hard work and dedication throughout the mentorship program.
  • Parental Involvement: Keeping parents informed about their child’s progress through regular updates and involving them in the mentorship process.

(D) Mama Africa Book Box: Holiday Reading Camp

The Mama Africa Book Box Reading Holiday Camp is an exciting and immersive program designed to turn school holidays into a literary adventure for children and teenagers. This camp is crafted to inspire a lifelong love for reading, foster creativity, and provide a platform for interactive learning and community building.

Program Highlights:

1. Interactive Storytelling Sessions:

  • Dynamic storytelling workshops led by experienced facilitators to ignite the participants’ creativity, encouraging them to develop unique ideas, craft compelling narratives and understand the elements of a well-crafted story.
  • Hands-on activities and games that guide participants in creating their own stories, allowing them to explore their imagination and develop essential storytelling skills.

2. Literary Exploration and Book Clubs:

  • Exploration of different literary genres, introducing participants to a diverse range of books and helping them discover their preferences and interests.
  • Interactive book club discussions where participants can share their thoughts on selected books, fostering a sense of community and promoting meaningful conversations about literature.

3. Creative Writing Workshops:

  • Engaging writing exercises designed to unleash the participants’ creativity and help them express their thoughts and emotions through the written word.
  • Opportunities for participants to share their writings with peers, receive constructive feedback, and gain insights on how to improve their storytelling skills.

4. Virtual or In-Person Author Sessions:

  • Special sessions where participants have the chance to virtually or in-person meet authors, hear about their writing experiences, and ask questions about the world of storytelling.
  • For in-person events, organizing autograph sessions with guest authors, creating memorable keepsakes for the participants.

5. Creative Arts Integration:

  • Art and Storytelling: Exploring the connection between visual arts and storytelling, with activities like drawing or crafting scenes from their favorite stories.
  • Dramatic Readings and Performances: Encouraging participants to bring stories to life through dramatic readings and small performances, enhancing their public speaking and presentation skills.

6. Community Engagement Events:

  • Book Swaps and Donations: Organizing book swaps and donation drives within the community, promoting the culture of sharing and accessibility to a wide variety of books.
  • Reading Circles and Family Involvement: Establishing reading circles where participants and their families can come together, encouraging family involvement in the joy of reading.

7. Culminating Celebration:

  • Literary Carnival: Hosting a culminating literary carnival at the end of the holiday camp, where participants can showcase their creative works, engage in fun activities, and celebrate their literary achievements.
  • Book Fair: Collaborating with local bookstores to organize a book fair, allowing participants to explore and purchase new books to continue their reading journey beyond the holiday camp.

8. Continuous Engagement:

  • Online Reading Challenges: Launching online reading challenges to keep participants engaged even after the camp, promoting a continuous love for reading.
  • Integration into MABB Reading Club or Revolving Libraries: This will create an ongoing connection with participants and nurturing their enthusiasm for literature.

(E) Mama Africa Book Box: Children Publishing Cohort

This is a program involving normal publishing cohorts as the adult authors. However, special attention is given to the process to ensure the children’s and teen’s voices ring loud with its intended purpose including a review on type of illustrations needed.

The program aims to amplify the voices of young authors, ensuring that their stories resonate loudly with purpose and authenticity. It not only nurtures the talent of the next generation of writers but also celebrates the power of storytelling in shaping our collective narrative.

Program Highlights:

  • Character Development: Special attention to character development, encouraging participants to create relatable and diverse characters that preach the Gospel to children as they reflect their own experiences and perspectives.
  • Illustrator Matching: Pairing young authors with illustrators who can bring their visions to life. Participants actively contribute to discussions on the style and type of illustrations that complement their stories.
  • Peer Editing Circles: Establishing peer editing circles where young authors can provide feedback to each other, fostering a supportive writing community.
  • Professional Editing Assistance: Providing professional editing support to refine language, enhance storytelling techniques, and ensure the manuscripts meet industry standards.
  • Understanding the Publishing Process: Educating participants about the publishing process, including manuscript submission, editing, book design, and the importance of marketing and promotion.
  • Professional Design Support: Collaborating with professional designers to ensure high-quality, visually appealing book layouts that captivate readers.
  • Virtual and In-Person Book Launches: Organizing virtual and in-person book launch events where young authors can proudly present their published works to the community.
  • Author Showcases: Arranging author showcases to highlight the achievements of the young publishing cohort, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment.
  • Author Mentorship Program: Providing ongoing mentorship to participants even after the publishing process, guiding them on navigating the literary world, and encouraging their growth as authors.
  • Community of Young Authors: Establishing a supportive community for young authors to connect, share experiences, and inspire each other on their writing and publishing journeys.

Conclusion:

Mama Africa Book Box is passionate about promoting readership and authorship. Our key focus being Africa. Together with like-minded partners, we seek to impact the young generation for Christ with literature. Thus, we use social media platforms, radio, TV, even word of mouth to spread the word.

We believe MABB to be a vision fueled by passion to preach the Gospel using literature and help change the narrative surrounding the reading and writing culture in East Africa and Africa at large.

 

Kind Regards,

Administrator: Karen Sila. Email admin@cblafrica.com Tel +254768924027

Programs Coordinator: Jackline Ingasian. Email programs@cblafrica.com Tel +254707463007

Patron: Dr. Muthoni Omukhango. Email muthoni.mercy@cblafrica.com Tel +254720817962

CLC Kids & Teens – A children’s books’ ministry by CLC Kenya

www.kenyaclc.org/clc-kids-and-teens

Impacting lives with Christian literature

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