Reading Stories, Writing Ours.

Every young Sierra Leonean deserves to experience the magic of stories.

Our mission is to provide educational resources and create safe spaces where young people can read, write, and nurture their ideas.

A teacher reads with smiling children gathered in a Sierra Leone courtyard.

Program proof

  • 15+

    Boxes of books collected in Reading, Pennsylvania

  • Shipped

    Book drive shipment status

  • PENDING

    Young people reached through active programs

Programs

Book Clubs and Writing Workshops across Sierra Leonean Schools, Eco Literacy Club for College Students, Book Drives, And The Konima Creative Center.

We are currently implementing four main programs to aid us in reaching our goal of improving literacy in Sierra Leone.

Book Clubs and Writing Workshops programme scene

Literacy

Book Clubs and Writing Workshops

A literacy initiative that revives reading culture, promotes storytelling, and helps young people build confidence through books, writing, and discussion.

  • [YOUTH_REACHED] young readers and writers reached
  • [BOOKS_DISTRIBUTED] books and materials distributed
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Eco-Literacy Club programme scene

Community

Eco-Literacy Club

A reading and writing club for university students focused on climate change, development, and youth-led environmental communication.

  • [UNIVERSITY_PARTICIPANTS] university participants
  • [ECO_WRITING_OUTPUTS] eco-literacy writing outputs
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Reading, Pennsylvania Book Drive programme scene

Community

Reading, Pennsylvania Book Drive

A founding book drive collected more than 15 boxes of books in Reading, Pennsylvania to support Konima's literacy work in Freetown.

  • 15+ boxes collected
  • Oct 13-25 collection window
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Impact

Book Drive and Book Distribution

We conducted a book drive in Reading Pennsylvania, and we were able to collect sixteen small U-Haul boxes of books and we successfully raised the money needed to ship them to Sierra Leone. We plan to distribute the books to schools, community centers , orphanages and other institutions.

15+

Boxes of books collected in Reading, Pennsylvania

Collected Oct 13-25

Counted from the Reading, Pennsylvania Book Drive collection records shared by the Konima team.

Shipped

Book drive shipment status

Awaiting arrival in Freetown

Shipment status will be updated with arrival photos and inventory proof once the books reach Freetown.

PENDING

Young people reached through active programs

To be verified after program cycle

Will be counted from attendance records for book clubs, writing workshops, and partner activities.

PENDING

Inclusive literacy support delivered

Baseline pending

Will include documented support for children with visual impairments and other disabilities once programming begins.

Gallery

Program delivery, books, and learning resources

[BUDGET_ALLOCATION_PROGRAMS]%

Volunteer coordination and workshop support

[BUDGET_ALLOCATION_SUPPORT]%

Operations, compliance, and safeguarding

[BUDGET_ALLOCATION_OPERATIONS]%

Stories

Why reading and writing?

Founder's Story, Volunteer Voices, Program Updates.

Story illustration for Why Abubakar Founded The Konima Institute

Founder Story

Why Abubakar Founded The Konima Institute

A personal journey through reading, illness, migration, and writing became the foundation for a literacy nonprofit in Sierra Leone.

April 20, 2026 · 5 min read

Founder StoryReadingWriting
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Story illustration for More Than 15 Boxes of Books Are on Their Way to Freetown

Program Update

More Than 15 Boxes of Books Are on Their Way to Freetown

The Reading, Pennsylvania Book Drive collected and shipped books that will support Konima's early literacy programming in Sierra Leone.

April 12, 2026 · 3 min read

Book DriveProgramsFreetown
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Story illustration for Volunteer Voices: What Reading and Writing Make Possible

Volunteer Voices

Volunteer Voices: What Reading and Writing Make Possible

Konima volunteers reflect on reading as escape, writing as expression, and why young people need both.

April 5, 2026 · 4 min read

Volunteer VoicesReadingWriting
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Voices

What literacy and creativity means to our volunteers and stakeholders.

Some of our young readers/writers as well as our volunteers share what literacy means to them and discuss the impact it's had on their lives.

Reading exposes me to ideas, places, cultures, and experiences beyond my immediate environment. Writing lets me control my own narrative and share opinions, ideas, and thoughts I cannot always express openly.

Archilyn Cole-Lewis

Volunteer Coordinator · Sierra Leone

Writing is a way to express thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It helps people communicate, inspire, educate, influence, process emotions, and leave a mark that can shape how others see the world.

Emmanuel N.S Lansana

Volunteer · Sierra Leone

Reading is an escape route from the daily trauma we face. It helps us forget our worries for a moment, gain strength to try again, and explore new worlds, cultures, and perspectives.

Christiana Jeneba Gordia

Volunteer · Sierra Leone

[PARTNER_1][PARTNER_2][PARTNER_3][PARTNER_4]

Newsletter

Stay Updated on our work.

Get updates on book drives, reading and writing clubs, volunteer opportunities, and program impact.

Help us open our first "Konima Creative Center" in Freetown.

A Space that is equipped with books, a writing lab, and a quiet reading area, where young people can read, write, and be inspired.