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Africa Books Appeal
(UK/Africa) In an email conversation with David Williams, Business Devlopment Manager at Addison, updated me on his Gambia Books Appeal and gave me permission to share it here:
The first phase of the Books for The Gambia project at Sanyang Lower Basic School is now complete. Around 10,000 books were delivered in April of this year and have been accommodated in the custom built library. Following many hours of cataloguing the stock of books, the children and teachers now have the benefit of a fully functional reference library and separate reading room.
We shall never know the full impact of such a learning resource. It may be another decade before a budding new Gambian author, doctor, illustrator or even rocket scientist makes mention of the influence of the Sanyang Library. But it will happen. The creation of the library will positively influence these young lives.
A rural school that formally had very little to offer its children in terms of teaching aids now has one of the richest learning centres in the country
During my last trip to the school in August, Lamin Balajoh, Head Teacher at the school very proudly took me on a tour of the new facility—undoubtedly his pride and joy.
The reference library has six complete sets of Encyclopaedia Britannica and ten sets of The Children's Encyclopaedia Britannica, numerous sets of educational titles and individual books covering all aspects of learning. Mr Balajoh commented that the success of the project has already had a profound affect on the school—"Our original intention was to introduce our children to the world outside of the village, to stimulate their thinking and creativity. We now have one of the finest libraries in The Gambia. Our new aim is to share this with other schools in the region and to open it in the evenings and weekends to the village community. Sanyang will become a recognised centre of learning".
One section of the library has proven a particular favourite. Interactive has clearly delighted many of the pupils. Imagine, (having likely never seen TV) yourself at the age of eight opening the pages of your first pop-up book… How fantastic!
The success of the library at Sanyang has become something of a benchmark in social projects in the country. Within one year, plans were laid, books were collected, the building completed and the stock delivered A credit to all those involved. Some of the books came from as far away as Australia.
Phase two of the programme will see even greater opportunities being delivered to a wider audience of children and young students.
Working with the Gambian High Commission in the UK and Ministry of Education in Banjul, we have now broadened our search to educational and recreational books, spanning early learning through to University levels. We are also extending our quest to gather sports equipment and typewriters—there's no power for computers in many schools.
The Education Ministry will be organising sorting and distribution of the goods to appropriate schools as part of a nationwide initiative. In particular, we are looking for key publications for degree level students on Law, Medicine, Engineering, Accountancy, Farming, Science and Technology.
As you clean out before Christmas and realise what you don't really need from all those festive presents, please think of our appeal. Our phase two target is 20,000 books and sufficient sports equipment to stage a mini Olympics. It's a big target, but one I believe we can achieve.
And the same delivery rule applies… you get them to us and I will make sure of the next three thousand miles (with the very generous help and support of some friends at WPP Group plc).
To every one of you that has helped so far—and there have been a great many, I can only offer a huge thank you from the community of Sanyang. To those of you who may chose to contribute further, let me extend the gratitude of the people of the whole Gambian nation.
If anybody wants to deliver books they should send them to David Williams, Addison, 2 Cathedral Street, London SE1 9DE or alternatively Louise Glenton, The Town Crier, Priory House, Priory Lane, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 2BH
Filed by DK on December 2 2005
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