soma

Background
Soma (E&D Readership and Development Agency) is an autonomous not for profit organization whose vision is to see Tanzania transformed into “an informed society that values knowledge and literature, creativity and independent thinking.”
Started in mid 2008, Soma contributes to the creation, promotion and sustenance of a reading culture by actively participating in the development of readership activities and actively networking with like-minded organizations.
Soma maintains a Book Café with facilities for leisurely reading and reflection. It is home to a well stocked bookshop which also offers internet services; a Café with tasty bites and drinks taken from a pleasant garden in which Soma readership forums and other leisurely events and happenings with literary, cultural and/or learning dimension. Soma also publishes a quarterly literary magazine named Soma and maintains a vibrant and interactive web and e-based forums.

Mission
To contribute to the creation, promotion and sustenance of a reading culture by actively participating in the development of readership in Tanzania; designing and implementing readership activities; and joining hands with others in advocating for a social and policy environment that fosters reading for pleasure and pursuit of knowledge.

Statement of Belief
Promoting and creating an active reading culture is a collective responsibility because we all have a vested interest in our own development; in the current global context in which information is power. A society which does not read is marginalized and continually acted upon; A reading culture is therefore a development imperative in a country like Tanzania Which is resource rich but its people are poor, whose literacy rates are low and whose struggles ought to be focused on the elimination of poverty.

Core-values
Being aware and sensitive to all forms of discrimination including discrimination based on gender, HIV/AIDS status, nurturing independence, creativity and critical thinking and continuously learning; and always aspiring for excellence.

Program Summary
The overall objective of the Readership and Development Agency is to contribute to the creation of an informed, inspired, learning and empowered society through readership promotion. The above objective is to be achieved through five mutually supporting development objectives namely:
1.    To establish readership status in the country (so as to generate information and data for policy advocacy and development of effective strategies to change the status quo);
2.    To promote the culture of ‘reading’ in the country (and all aspects that stimulate reading for aesthetical pleasure, authoring of ideas and voluntary, independent and sustained pursuit of knowledge);
3.    To popularise information on books and readership (so as to enhance access both in terms of informing the public what is available to read and where, and repackaging relevant and strategic knowledge and information into forms that are more accessible, leisurely and aesthetically appealing);
4.    To establish a network and alliances among readership advocates (so as to give right to information and knowledge a louder and effective voice and champions);
5.     To contribute to capacity development in literary expression and publishing among children and youth (so as to make their voices heard; their contribution in the body of literature meant for their consumption felt and their creative potentials validated).