About

The vision of Children’s Peace Libraries of Rwanda is to see a positive transformation and sustainable peace promotion among the children of Rwanda. The Children’s Peace Libraries have become centers for literacy and learning, and a home to our programs teaching nonviolent conflict resolution.

Our five libraries provide much-needed educational material to students in the surrounding communities and strive to be centers of learning. We believe that feeding imagination and curiosity will lead to a greater understanding of the world that will foster compassion and empathy.

Children participate in conflict resolution and mediation trainings hosted in the libraries. Our education approach differs dramatically from education model employed in Rwandan public schools, with emphasizes memorization and repetition. We focus on affective education: developing character and leadership by linking inner values with everyday actions in interpersonal relationships.

The six libraries are located throughout Rwanda, found in:

  • Kigali (Kigali City)
  • Bigogwe and Kanzenze, Rubavu District (Western Province)
  • Gicumbi District (Northern Province)
  • Musanze District (Northern Province)
  • Burera District (Northern Province)

Kigali Library

The largest of our Children’s Peace Libraries, the Kigali library offers access to over 2000 books for all reading levels, with an emphasis on books that contain strong messages of peace and social justice. The library has direct partnerships with several local schools and is currently utilized by over 250 students. Francine, our librarian, provides students with English and reading comprehension assistance when they are visiting the library to maximize retention and educational gain. Screen and video equipment in the library is used for educational movies and  programs to provide further English exposure.

Kanzenze and Bigogwe Libraries

In early 2012, The Children’s Peace Library extended its reach to rural areas opening two new branches in the Rubavu District: Kanzenze and Bigogwe. In Bigogwe, a new library we opened in July 2022 to help children in rural areas to improve their skills. Since 2012, the Kanzenze library as been open and has welcomed rural students to learn about peace.

Gicumbi Library

Our newest library is located in Gicumbi District, in the Northern Province of Rwanda. The Byumba Library opened its doors in February 2013, and is home to over 1000 books. The library is already being mobbed by hordes of excited children on their way home from school!

Download Read Aloud Books

Access storybooks online by clicking the link to download the book. These books are used as part of the Read Aloud programs at all of the Children’s Peace Library locations. 

Africa Unity Race: download here
Urumuri rw’ubumwe: download
Busy Busy Sun: download here
Izuba Ryinshi:
download
Counting Cabbages: download here
Kubara Amashu:
download
Khalai Talks to Plants: download
Khalai Avugana n’ibimera: download
Maria’s Family: download
Umuryango wa Maria: download
Nangila’s Courage: download
Ubutwari bwa Nangila: download
Ntwari and the Old Man: download
Ntwari n’umusaza: download
Sara’s Canoe: download
Ubwato bwa Sara: download
Thimba to the Rescue: download
Thimba Atabara: download
Who Can Count to Ten:
download
Ninde ushobora kubara kugenza ku icumi: download
Feet, Hands, Arms and Head/Ibirenge, ibiganza, amaboko n’umutwe: download
Furaha and her Animals/Furaja n’amatungo ye: download
I Like to Read/Nkunda Gusoma:
download
Little and Big/Gito na Kinini:
download
Beloved Daughter: download
Umukobwa wakundwaga cyane: download
Amazing Daisy: download here
Daisy Ishimishije: download
Cat and Dog Draw & Color: download
Ibishushanya by’injangwe n’imbwa:
download
How Colors came in the sky: download
Uko Amabara yinshyizehamwe mu
kirere: download
Luwo’s House: download
Inzu ya Luwo: download
Monkey and Hyena: download
Inkende n’amapfa: download
Ndalo and Pendo: download
Ndalo and Pendo Kinyarwanda
Old Rooster: download
Isake Ishaje: download
Super Mummy: download
Mama W’ikirenga: download
Waiting for Baby: download
Gutegereza umwana: download
Ape and Crocodile/Inkende n’ingona: download
Colors/Amabara:
download
Fire/Umuriro:
download
Going to the City/Kujya mu mujyi: download
Let’s Go/Tugende:
download
Things I do at School/Ibintu Nkora Kwishuri: download
Best Friends/ Inshuti nziza: download
Decision/ Icyemezo k’ingirakamaro: download
A Tiny Seed: download here
Akabuto gato: download
Cat and Dog and Butterfly: download
Injangwe n’imbwa n’ikinyugunyugu:
download
Keeper and his Nursery: download
Umuzamu na Pepiniyeri:
download
Magical Rainbow River: download
Uruzi rw’umukororombya: download
Nakehi and the Beans: download
Nakehi Ni Ibishyimbo: download
Nema buys thread: download
Nema agura urudodo: download
Pendo, our Cow: download
Pendo, inka yacu: download
The Lady in Orange: download
Umukecuru muri Orange: download
Water for All: download
Amazu Kuri Bose: download
Brown/Igihogo:
download
Feelings/Ibyiyumviro:
download
Friends/Inshuti:
download
I Enjoy Doing/Nishimiye gukora: download
Let’s Listen/ Tega Amatwi:
download
Abel and his Sister’s Doll: download
Igikinisho cya mushiki wa Abeli: download

One Thought to “Children’s Peace Libraries”

  1. […] of children show the Kigali Peace library. To understand more about this 12 year old project see http://tlcrwanda.org/libraries/Yesterday I brought a box of books from Cambridge to the library and read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to […]

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