Dear Friends,Asanteni sana to all who joined us for Nairobi International Book Fair at the end of September. On Wednesday 25th we awarded the 2019 Digital Essay Competition (DEC) winners and finalists for Primary and Secondary schools during the 7th annual DEC Prizegiving. Mainstream learners and learners with disabilities alike received computing devices, scholarship money and certificates. Teachers of winning schools were also rewarded with gift vouchers and certificates. This year we received a record 13,560 essays from students across every one of Kenya’s 47 counties. I am happy to note that two of the grand prize winners were from opposite ends of the country: Elizabeth Awoton Chibile, is a girl from Kang'alita Primary School in Turkana County; and Sheyma Mohamed Ali Salai is a girl from Mnara Junior Academy in Garissa County. Also among the top winners were Fabian Muka, Ebukuya School for the Deaf in Vihiga County, and Joshua Munyoki Maswili, Thika High School for the Blind in Kiambu County.For me, the most exhilarating experience of the Book Fair this year was watching our Director of Studio KSL, teacher Georgine Auma Obura, introduce a class of Deaf children to video storybooks in Kenyan Sign Language in the classroom next to our stand. Every one of the children was on the edge of their seats for well over an hour as Georgine showed them storybooks like Sun, Moon and Water, Marion’s Best Day, and more. Each time Georgine stopped the video to ask the children questions, instantly all hands shot into the air—stretching like a flock of birds suddenly rising—reaching toward Georgine to be called on to give their answers. There I saw the twin powers of storytelling and teaching in full fledged form.Congratulations to KPA and all who joined in the successful move of NIBF to the clean, new and spacious Expo Centre at Sarit: the new facility presents bright possibilities for the future.Warmest regards,WillRead more here