Liv Lakou ~ The Book Yard

Liv Lakou, which means “Book Yard” in Haitian Creole, is a literacy program that brings books and storytime to children in rural Haiti. Many classrooms have few or no books outside of required curriculum materials, and most homes have very few books beyond a Bible. After school, children have limited options for play or learning. They often spend hours completing chores, fetching water, or helping their families. With so little to do, vulnerable children are at higher risk of being recruited by gangs.

 

Liv Lakou provides safe, welcoming spaces where children can read, explore, and imagine. Each small community library mailbox is filled with colorful storybooks in Haitian Creole and French, giving children the chance to enjoy stories beyond their schoolwork. Local volunteers host storytime sessions, helping kids fall in love with reading and giving them moments to simply be children.

 

The program is designed to place these libraries in strategic areas where children naturally gather. By providing books and storytelling in neighborhoods and along daily routes to fetch water or go to school, Liv Lakou offers children a safe, creative outlet that helps keep them engaged and inspired. These small libraries also plant seeds of hope, imagination, and education for children who might otherwise have very few opportunities after school.

 

You can help children experience the joy of reading and the benefits of safe community spaces. Support Liv Lakou by sponsoring a library mailbox or purchasing books to fill them, giving Haitian children access to stories that inspire, educate, and spark creativity.

 

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