OKSBO
Oksbo booklets are written and read by children, but can be tailored to any interest. Community health workers in Rwanda also use them. Our goal is to create a platform for young authors with limited means to create, share and grow their knowledge. Brief History
The Benebikira Sisters of Rwanda wished to develop a reading culture in their schools where there is no Internet and books are expensive. After studying their needs and resources we responded with Oksbo. Oksbo is an origami booklet folded out of a single piece of paper. Four creasing folds and a single cut with a pair of scissors creates a pocket-sized book. In Rwanda, a book can cost 5,000 RWF, but one ream of paper for can be folded into 1,000 books at a fraction of that cost. Oksbo is a frugal and effective way of sharing information in places where there is no Internet or electricity. The only thing you need to ‘operate’ an Oksbo, is natural light.
Concise relevant writing and useful salient images, in book and poster format and created from a single folded sheet of paper, is our solution. Vicino Press established Oksbo, and cooperates with the Pibrary Project at the South Boston Paraclete, and our friends in Rwanda and beyond, to create collections of optimal content for young learners, as they become accomplished readers, authors, illustrators, artists, designers, inventors, storytellers and scholars in their own right.
Download the template here
Where is Oksbo working now?
Marcella Felde is in Africa cultivating children's stories and publishing them in little ”origami” booklets we call Oksbo. In Kinyarwanda, little booklets are called agatabo. Oksbo booklets turn inside out to reveal the ending or moral of the story.
Oksbo are written and illustrated by the children in the familiar book format and can be easily reproduced on a copier for a couple pennies because of a cut in the center of the paper and an "origami" folding trick. Moreover, they fit into the hand of a small child and can be carried home and shared with the family and community. They "operate" in natural light, without electricity or Internet access to be read. Alternatively, Oksbo agatabo can be turned inside out to reveal a small poster on the author's subject. Stories can also be transcribed into Microsoft Word templates, printed and illustrated by hand. (Oksbo templates may need to be adjusted for your printer.)
Oksbo originals can be digitally scanned for further distribution through the PiBrary Collective. You can also create stories online at storyscape.io and print them in Oksbo format. Marcella Felde working in collaboration with Benebikira Sisters of Rwanda.
Selected Oksbo booklets are published by Vicino Press, Nathan Felde, Proprietor, who is also Chair of Art and Design at Northeastern University.