librariesfortheworld

Return to Uganda

Our volunteers returned to build on the work started in Uganda in 2022 – adding more books to the collection and conducting library programs for students in Abwanget Village. It was a joy to reconnect with familiar faces and experience the peace of the beautiful countryside. Volunteers read picture books, sang songs, and guided students in extension activities based on the books we had read. Our group also trained staff on the importance of reading to young children, and older students participated in reading activities over the weekend, while they were out of school.

Students helped us process some of the books that we had taken with us. Most of the books that we added to the collection had already been processed by volunteers in the U.S. and shipped before we arrived. Thanks to generous donors, we were able to purchase a new desktop computer for the library! The computer will be used to not only provide internet access but to teach villagers and students how to use a computer. While there, we also visited with several of the primary school students whose education we sponsor.

Volunteers ended the trip to Uganda by going on safari at Murchison Falls National Park, in the northwest part of the country. Our organization plans on visiting Abwanget Village every couple of years, to follow up on training and to deliver library programs to children.

librariesfortheworld

New secondary school library in Tanzania

Luganga Secondary School in Mafinga, Tanzania asked for a school library, and we delivered! After traveling for a couple of days, our group of volunteers arrived in Dar es Salaam and then visited bookstores to purchase as many local books as possible. The group then traveled by bus to the central, interior part of the country to set up books and train library staff.

Our shipment of books had been held up in Singapore for a couple of months and did not arrive in time for our trip, but students, staff, and a librarian from Iringa finished the work of setting up the books. Our volunteers had taken a couple hundred books with them for the library, so we were able to train staff on processing new books, library organization, and principles of librarianship.

One of the volunteers, Gina, belongs to a chess organization and brought many donated chess sets. Our group taught teachers and students how to play chess, in the hopes that the library will be seen as a hub of the school, a place where students can gather to pursue many interests, including becoming experts at chess. While there, we met and were driven around by Albert, one of the teachers at the school, who also runs a preschool and primary school. Our organization will return to Tanzania to continue working with the secondary school and to open a school library for Albert’s school in 2026.

librariesfortheworld

Library Days at Asturias!

Our group of volunteers arrived in Guatemala for a service trip in Quetzaltenango (Xela) at the Colegio Miguel Angel Asturias. One of the goals of the trip is to conduct library programs for the students, not just to make the library fun but also to model for the teachers how to create fun extension activities related to books.

Students were treated to fun library programs conducted by our programming team – Irania, Norma, Karen, and Jessica. Irania brought her cuatro (Venezuelan instrument) for sing-alongs and riddles, which warmed up the students and made them feel welcome. The focus was on emotional well-being, with children writing encouraging messages for themselves and engaging in various activities.

One of the books read to the students was “Yo soy Paz” (I am Peace) by Susan Verde, a book that focuses on mindfulness and strategies to keep oneself calm. Students talked about things that make them feel peace and created origami related to images from the book.

For these special Library Days, every class in the school visits the library for a 50-minute program. During regular weeks, classes visit the library at least once per week, and some students hang out in the library during breaks, such as recess. The library is the only carpeted room in the school, so staff and students take their shoes off and sometimes wear slippers so that they can keep the carpet clean. The school is still requiring masks since Covid is still circulating.

librariesfortheworld

Pandemic lockdown continues

Because Abwanget is so close to the border with Kenya, which has a larger number of COVID cases than Uganda, the lockdown and curfew continues. Schools are still closed, and many teachers haven’t been paid since February. The government is conducting school lessons over the radio, but that can be a problem in the rural villages, where homes seldom have electricity. Once the batteries die, so does the radio!

People are still struggling to meet basic needs during the lockdown. Many children have been forced to help their families by selling items on the streets while their parents tend the family gardens and fields. The area has had much rain, at times too much, destroying many roads, houses, and gardens. Denis has been keeping young men busy by making bricks with the mud left from the rainstorms.

Making bricks after a rainstorm

The pandemic has made life more difficult for the people of Uganda. Please continue to donate so that we can help put people back to work, allowing them to earn an income and feed their families.

Photo by Denis Okiru
librariesfortheworld

Update from Denis

A note from Denis:

Year 2020 brings us to a year of hard work and sacrifice. We are thankful and we give grace to God who has made us alive and strong. Our struggles continue in a positive perspective although amidst a few manageable challenges.

The process of construction of the children centre and library project is ongoing. We are thankful for the donations and hopeful that we continue to touch the hearts of all those who sacrifice to support the project here.

With your support we have managed to reach the roofing phase. So far we have paid for the timber, bought nails and now we are challenged with the purchase of 60 iron sheets for covering the roof and paying for the labour needed. This work is supposed to be undertaken as soon we get the funds. After roofing we will move to the next phase of fixing doors and windows.

Besides construction, we can touch lives of children here in my community by supporting their educational needs and above all provide them with psycho social care and support as a team in that, we will reach our targets.

As children are getting back to school, we have been involved in collecting scholastic supplies and also finding sponsors for our needy community children so that they can get affordable education geared towards improving the live standards of children and their families.

In conclusion, let’s join hands to contribute and support the Children centre and library project. The holistic care, support, growth, and development of children is our priority. “A hand which gives receives a handful of blessings” Hope to hear from you.

Denis

Director- CCL Project Africa Uganda