Giving New Life to Libraries for All's Norton, Zimbabwe Library

During the last week of May 2026, Sheryl Guyon and I visited the Libraries for All's library in Norton, Zimbabwe for the first time! Currently, this is Libraries for All's largest library.

The library project started in 2020, but took three years to complete due to COVID. Since then, the timing was never right to travel as our partner there worried for our saftey. Finally, we were able to visit the library for the first time!

Our goal on this trip was to rejuvenate the space by giving it a fresh coat of paint. We enlisted the help of three young adult voluenteers and trained them in the skill of professional painting. In Zimbabwe, painting skills are valuable, so this training set them up for income generating opportunities with their new skills.

After a week of long days and hard work, the library was transformed into a bright, welcoming space once again, painted in Libraries for All's signature blue and yellow.

The building before:

And after!

A BIG THANK YOU TO SHERYL GUYON, LOVEMORE, NICOLE, AND KUDA. EACH PERSON WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL WEEK!