STATEMENT FROM SOTRANE PUBLISHERS WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHTS DAY 2020 THURSDAY, 23RD APRIL
Sydney Muponda
STATEMENT FROM SOTRANE PUBLISHERS
WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHTS DAY 2020
THURSDAY, 23RD APRIL 2020
SOTRANE Publishers, a subsidiary company of Network for Society Transformation (SOTRANE) joins the rest of the world to observe World Book and Copyright Day. Our theme is Tell A Story, with the global focus this year being “Books: A Window into the World during Covid-19.”
SOTRANE Publishers is on the mission to keep our indigenous values and wisdom alive. We do so by focusing on developing, publishing, promoting and distributing African indigenous knowledge, values and wisdom and socially relevant books and literature. We believe literature is an inexpensive tool for people to learn and explore worlds beyond their immediate environment. Books brings closer worlds beyond one’s imagination within their reach.
Today we celebrate books (from our homes) by focusing on publishing, outreach and reading. We believe even in this time of global crisis; books have the potential to reduce likelihood of people halting their studies because of limited or no access to information. According to UNESCO, “Now more than ever, at a time when globally most schools are closed and people are having to limited time spent out of their homes, the power of books can be leveraged to combat isolation, to reinforce ties between people, and to expand our horizons, while stimulation our minds and creativity.”
Mentorship
Thus, we are with credence that books will create avenues to keep everyone meaningfully occupied in order to decrease the possible psychological impact of Covid-19.
As SOTRANE Publishers, we are calling on government, educational institutions, service providers and stakeholders, to support us in the literary sector, partner with us to ensure that Covid-19 related materials and other information, are made available both in print and electronically. This calls for government and cooperating partners to consider exclusive incentives and support packages to the literary sector during and post Covid-19 time as books form a part of the value chain necessary to develop Zambia.
We equally urge parents, guardians, teachers and other members of the public to make books accessible to their children and students to provide adequate support strategies to cope with the effects of this pandemic and its aftermath adversities.
Happy World Book and Copyright Day 2020! Thank You and Stay Safe. CONTACT: The SOTRANE Publishers, P. O Box 35375, Lusaka, Zambia. Cell: +260 763465255, E-mail: sotranepublishers@gmail.com, Facebook: Sotrane Publishers, Location: Room 601, 6th Floor Kulima Tower Building, Katunjila Road, Lusaka.
