Popular American YouTuber Zack Nelson to Build a Sh9 Million Library in Kenya

Popular American YouTuber Zack Nelson has announced he is building a modern library in Kenya in a project estimated to cost $75,000 (about Sh9 million).

Nelson, who runs the DIY tech JerryRigEverything, said he has been saving proceeds of his channel towards the project in Budalangi, Busia County.

“Education can solve all of the world’s problems, which is why we have exciting news that part of the 75,000 dollars that you guys have given us by watching our videos is going to be used to build a full-size library in Kenya,” Nelson told his nearly 7.5 million YouTube subscribers.

The content creator is undertaking the project with his ‘uncle’ Philip, a Kenyan who moved to the United States 15 years ago to pursue his studies and was hosted by Nelson’s family.

Philip, who grew up in Budalangi, says this is their turn to give back to the community. He said the facility will be the only library within a 100-mile radius and is set to serve 10 primary schools, six high schools and three colleges in the area.

“Getting the land and building the library is about to cost US$50,000,” Nelson added.

The remaining $25,000 will be spent on sinking a borehole to serve the nearby community with a stable water supply.

“That is also the price of digging an industrial borehole that would also service the entire community. It will have massive water tanks and solar panels at the top and make the library an essential hub for people to come and hang out,” Nelson said.

Nelson and Philip launched a drive to raise funds and get books from Americans of goodwill towards equipping the library. Their target is 12,000 to 15,00 books, mainly children’s books, novels, encyclopedias and textbooks.

“This library will provide an opportunity for kids to start reading and learning about books from the age of two all the way to six. We will have things like nursery rhymes that will help equip the children before they transition to primary school,” Philip said.

He added: “The idea of a library has been a dream of mine for quite some time now and I’ve had the privilege of having a formal education by being here in America and so with your help, we can turn this around and provide this knowledge to the people in my community.”