Muskan Ahirwar | |
---|---|
Born | 2006 or 2007 (age 17–18) |
Occupation(s) | Educator and librarian |
Muskan Ahirwar (born 2006 or 2007) is an Indian educator and librarian from Bhopal, India. [1] [2] In 2016, when she was 9 years old, she created a community library for children in the worker's colony where she lives, named Kitabi Masti ("fun with books") in Hindi. The library has since moved to a dedicated space and has been expanded to over 3,000 books. [3] [4] [5] She has been given several awards for her work including by NITI Aayog, Hyderabad Literature Festival, and the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights. [6] [7]
The library, Kitabi Masti ("fun with books"), is built in the common space of Durganagar worker's colony in Arera Hills of Bhopal where Muskan lives. [8] [9] She started the library on 26 January 2016 with her sister Neha to serve the children who live in the area. [10] [11] [12] The library began with 25 books hung on a string outside her house. [13] [14] [15] "I was nine years old when I started this library ... I had collected some books which I displayed outside my house by hanging them on a rope. The colourful images fascinated the children in the locality. They started visiting my house regularly to read the books. This is how my interest in books started to grow." [5]
In 2017, Muskan was awarded a grant by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to fund development of the library. [14] The library has since moved to a dedicated space which has been renovated using waste materials by architecture students from the National Association of Students of Architecture. [5] [16] The library has been expanded to over 3,000 books through contributions of books from places in India as well as the United States, South Africa, and other countries. [5] [6]
Muskan has been recognised with several awards for her work and has also been commended by Madhya Pradesh UNICEF Field Office Chief, Michael Juma. [17]
Muskan Ahirwar | |
---|---|
Born | 2006 or 2007 (age 17–18) |
Occupation(s) | Educator and librarian |
Muskan Ahirwar (born 2006 or 2007) is an Indian educator and librarian from Bhopal, India. [1] [2] In 2016, when she was 9 years old, she created a community library for children in the worker's colony where she lives, named Kitabi Masti ("fun with books") in Hindi. The library has since moved to a dedicated space and has been expanded to over 3,000 books. [3] [4] [5] She has been given several awards for her work including by NITI Aayog, Hyderabad Literature Festival, and the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights. [6] [7]
The library, Kitabi Masti ("fun with books"), is built in the common space of Durganagar worker's colony in Arera Hills of Bhopal where Muskan lives. [8] [9] She started the library on 26 January 2016 with her sister Neha to serve the children who live in the area. [10] [11] [12] The library began with 25 books hung on a string outside her house. [13] [14] [15] "I was nine years old when I started this library ... I had collected some books which I displayed outside my house by hanging them on a rope. The colourful images fascinated the children in the locality. They started visiting my house regularly to read the books. This is how my interest in books started to grow." [5]
In 2017, Muskan was awarded a grant by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to fund development of the library. [14] The library has since moved to a dedicated space which has been renovated using waste materials by architecture students from the National Association of Students of Architecture. [5] [16] The library has been expanded to over 3,000 books through contributions of books from places in India as well as the United States, South Africa, and other countries. [5] [6]
Muskan has been recognised with several awards for her work and has also been commended by Madhya Pradesh UNICEF Field Office Chief, Michael Juma. [17]