Save the Children set up a series of libraries managed by children in the communities they lived and trained children to run them, as a way of protecting the children from harm. The objective of the library development program was to increase children's knowledge and skills and there by ensure their protection; protecting them from all kinds of abuse and maltreatment.

1. “Child Friendly Community
(CFC) Libraries Managed by
Children:
In a Conflict Affected Area of Sri
Lanka” by Lionel R. Amarakoon
lionel@savethechildren.lk

2. Objective of the CFC Libraries
• Is to increase children‟s knowledge and skills and
thereby protect them from their life challenges
• It has also helped them to learn cooperation and
encourage of self-expressions and creativity
• It has help them to learn and encourage of
language through conversation, story telling and
singing

3. Establishment of CFC Libraries
• 54 child friendly community libraries were
established in the district of Anuradhapura
in the following DS Divisions:
Wilachchiya, Welioya, Kahatagasdigiliya,
Madyama Nuwara gampalatha, Galnewa
and Palagala.

4. Anuradapura Map

5. Child Issues
•
•
•
•
•
•
Incest in families
School dropouts
Child Labour
Sexual harassment
Teenage pregnancies
Attempted Suicide

6. Strategies identified by children
to reduce their vulnerabilities
•
•
•
•
Using street theatre
Peer to Peer education
Development of IEC materials
Establishment of 54 children‟s clubs/child
libraries

7. Libraries Managed by
Children…
Secure Place for Children to
Bring Children together
Discuss Issues
Access Reliable Information
which are important to them and identify ways to
address these issues.

8. Helped to Reduce the Incidence
of Alcoholism
Through children developing and performing street dramas
Equipping the children with skills to help reduce the alcohol
Consumption of their fathers through for e.g.
Talking about the issue with their fathers when they are sober

9. Open Access Library System
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Free-standing Library Shelves
Classification of books using DDC 21st edition.
Shelf guides and Library Guide Book
„Plan of Action‟ of the Library
Organization of Non-book materials
Organization of Library Extension activities
„Community Information Cells‟

10. Lessons Learnt
• Providing children with the information and skills to
influence their lives is more sustainable than simply
providing them with material support.
• A Team approach is more effective and sustainable than
working alone
• The skills they inculcate through the programme help
them to addressed issues.
• „CFC Libraries‟ is a very good initiative for increasing
child participation and decision-making
• Reading not only is treated as a source of gathering
knowledge but it should also be a form of hobby and
entertainment.

11. Library Building Before
Renovation

12. Library Building After
Renovations

13. Children’s Club Library Members at the Mobile
Service at Divisional Secretariat

14. Banner highlighting
Migrant Mothers Issue
Banner highlighting
Migrant Mothers Issue

15. Banner highlighting the
alcoholism issue

16. Child Librarian at the
Communications Workshop

17. HIV/AIDS Workshop

18. Situation Analysis

19. Shramadana at
Sri Maha Bodhi

20. Anti Drugs Street March

21. Shramadana at Wilachchiya

22. Child librarian issuing books

23. At the Bosevana Children’s
Library

24. Serious Library Readers

25. What they brought to the
fair

26. Children reading books

27. Eagerly waiting to
Borrow books

28. Summer Hut Outside the Library

29. Prabath – Core Group
Member/Child Librarian

30. Divisional Secretary
Wilachchiya

31. Poster displayed in a library

32. Inauguration of the Basic Library
Skills Workshop

33. Ven. Thanthirimale
Chandraratne Thero

34. Non book materials
in the Library

35. Non Book Materials in
the library

36. Children’s Conference at
Anuradhapura