A library donation marked another step in a growing relationship between Turning Tides and the Gatwitch Club in Kakuma Refugee Camp located in North Western Kenya.
The handover of six boxes of books – covering children’s literature, youth development, technical subjects, fiction, and local and regional contexts—was received by Gatwitch Club leadership and community members as an investment in learning, continuity, and opportunity.
Speaking from Gatwitch Club in Kakuma, Joseph Malieth, Chairperson of the Club, described the moment as one of collective appreciation:
“We are here at the Gatwitch Club with our leadership and the beneficiaries—the students. We want to give special thanks to our partner, Turning Tides, led by our brother Douglas and his wife, for generously donating these books to the library. This contribution supports the welfare of our community and our project as an organization, and we are grateful for the consistency of this support.”
The books were formally handed over in Nairobi before being transported to Kakuma. Doug Ragan reflected on the donation as a practical contribution to learning and curiosity:
“These are books we’re donating to the Gatwitch Library. There’s a real mix – technical material, children and youth books, Nairobi -focused content, and fiction. Literacy matters, and access to a wide range of material matters too.”
Receiving the books on behalf of both the Library and the wider network, Absalom Both Gatwech, Chairperson of Gatwitch Club Global, emphasized their long-term value:
“We want to thank Turning Tides in a special way for this donation and for being consistent in supporting our organization. These books will help young people grow academically and engage more deeply with learning. You will see lives being shaped through this contribution.”
Absalom also acknowledged the wider circle of support that makes such initiatives possible, including the inspiration and leadership of Emmanuel Jal, whose work continues to influence community-led action in Kakuma and beyond.
The Gatwich Club Library serves as more than a collection of books. It is a shared space for learning, connection, and aspiration in a context where educational resources are often limited. This donation reinforces the role of community-led institutions in sustaining knowledge and opportunity, and reflects a partnership rooted in respect, continuity, and shared purpose.
For Turning Tides, the handover is one small part of a broader commitment to working alongside communities—supporting local initiatives that strengthen learning, resilience, and possibility over time.
Knowledge is illumination, and illumination brings freedom.
It frees the mind from limitation, the spirit from fear, and the future from uncertainty. Every aspect of life—personal, social, and professional—is shaped by what we know and how we apply it.
Where I stand today is not an accident; it is the result of an intentional investment made in my life. At a critical moment, a British aid worker, Emma McCune, risked everything to smuggle me to a place of safety. That single act of courage created space for something greater: access to knowledge.
In that safe environment, I was able to learn, grow, and develop skills that transformed my life. Knowledge became my tool for survival, my means of empowerment, and eventually my source of purpose. What once was protection became preparation.
Today, that knowledge has employed me—not only in a professional sense, but in a mission-driven way. It has enabled me to contribute beyond myself and create global impact, turning an act of rescue into a ripple effect that reaches far beyond one life.
This is the true power of knowledge: it does not end with the individual. When protected, nurtured, and applied, it becomes a force that liberates others and reshapes the world.
~ Emmanuel Jal