2024 Session 31 Report: August Edition Book Review

Itsekiri NextGen Project: 2024 Session 31 Report

• Topic: August Edition Book Review
• Date: 31st August 2024
• Volunteers Present: 5
• Total Number of Attendees: 57
• Timings: 11:00am – 1:00pm
• Venue: Former Caravan 4, Aja-Pessu (Pessu Town), Warri
• Main Topic/Activity: Book Review
• Resource Person: Itsekiri NextGen Team

Summary:

This session, held on the last Saturday of the month, focused on the August edition of the book review. It also included the first round of interviews for the three-year anniversary documentary of the Olu of Warri’s coronation.

Session Delivery:

The participants and volunteers, already accustomed to the monthly book review sessions, settled in quietly after the opening prayers and the singing of the Itsekiri anthem.

The session began with a discussion about the three-year coronation anniversary of the Olu of Warri. Some participants shared their experiences of attending the celebrations, while others recounted what they had seen on their parents’ phones. This created a lively atmosphere of shared experiences.

Itse Mirabel Ukubeyinje gave participants the opportunity to pitch their reasons for wanting to be the librarian of the day. After hearing their pitches, the coordinator chose the winning team, with Team Ginuwa II taking the role of librarian. The excitement around selecting the librarian has become a key highlight of the book review sessions.

Once the librarian was chosen, the participants lined up to select their books, and the librarian diligently recorded each participant’s name and the book they picked. After that, everyone settled into their reading—some read individually, while others read in teams. Volunteers guided the participants in using the Itsekiri NextGen dictionary to look up difficult words, helping those unfamiliar with dictionary use.

New participants joined this session, eagerly picking books and taking part in the reviews. One young boy bravely attempted his first review but struggled with expressing himself, leading to a few tears. The coordinator gave him a comforting hug, and the entire group cheered him on. This encouragement reassured him that he was in the right place and would soon build his confidence. Other new participants also stepped forward to give their reviews, doing impressively well despite it being their first time.

Volunteers:

• Debi Amadedon
• Weyinmi Igbineweka
• Jolomi Tedeye
• Omatsola Okpeayaghan
• Itse Mirabel Ukubeyinje

Other Key Activities During the Session:

• Interviews for the three-year anniversary documentary of the Olu of Warri’s coronation.