Richard and Taryn with Richard's mother Caroline. 

Tanzaroo Community Library Project developed from the realisation that in Tanzania, libraries that can be accessed free-of-charge by the general public are virtually non-existant. Children have to learn to read from a blackboard, without storybooks to practise. Students suffer from the lack of reference books available. Teachers work without any resources to help them. Adults who have literacy skills can barely afford to buy a newspaper let alone a book to read. Internet cafes are expensive and most people don't have the skills to effectively search for information online.

The project was started by Richard and Taryn Kweka. Richard is a Tanzanian now living in Australia and has first-hand experience of the frustration of not having free library access. He completed a Diploma in Youth Development Work through the Open University of Tanzania, and in the Arusha City Library (which is not a free service) was only able to find extremely dated reference books.

Taryn is a librarian currently employed by TAFE in Australia. She worked for 2 years in Tanzania as librarian at a private school and witnessed first-hand the students' excitement when it was time for library class - and their joy upon learning they could take library books home for a week.

In Australia, we tend to take libraries and books for granted - but we couldn't live without them. By establishing this project we hope that Tanzanians will no longer have to either.