Summary of Project Status and Achievements:
Library activities went well during November, although Kala's traditional CV / Professional Letter Writing did not have any intakes as the teacher, Douglas, who doubles as the PM Assistant, was busy focusing on property sales and closeout procedures. Nevertheless, Mwandiko Bora finished the month with seven graduates, including an added Swahili letter writing component due to request; 74 children participated in storytelling; 126 children and adults took advantage of the music library, 167 French, 50 Swahili, and 17 English materials were checked out throughout the month; and 200 patrons visited the library during November.
At the end of the month, Sara met with World Vision to discuss the final details of FORGE's phaseout in order to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted transition into its operations.
Indicators or Statistics:
See November spreadsheet.
Future Goals:
N/A
Substantial Problems or issues:
None.
Wishes and Requests:
None.
By Sara WasserteilSummary of Project Status and Achievements:
Unlike other projects, library services and programming did not suffer significant drops in participation and classes went well throughout October. After the community interest survey had indicated interest in an afternoon session of Mwandiko Bora, a program that came into fruition in September, prospective students did not share the same interest in October, so only a morning session was held. Regardless, 11 people received certificates at the end of the month.
French CV/Professional Letter Writing had two intakes throughout the course of the month, with 29 out of 35 completing the four day intensive course.
In anticipation of the bilateral meeting between FORGE and World Vision concerning the details of the handover of FORGE's library materials, library staff undertook the arduous task of taking an inventory of its contents. After two weeks of counting, the October 28th meeting with World Vision and subsequent conversation determined that World Vision would oversee FORGE's 900+ books and two games, while the 10 CD players, nine headphones, and 227 CDs would remain in FORGE's control. Both parties agreed that World Vision and the appropriate contact in Oakland would be in touch biannually, and the return/transport of the FORGE property would be further discussed between parties once World Vision had a clearer idea of its departure.
Due to its satisfaction with library management and programs, World Vision elected to absorb the current library staff into its staffing structure, providing jobs in the formal sector to those who had finished grade 12 and jobs in the informal sector for those who had less education.
Indicators or Statistics:
See October spreadsheet.
Future Goals:
Substantial Problems or issues:
None.
Wishes and Requests:
None.
By Sara WasserteilSummary of Project Status and Achievements:
The Kala Peace Library had a fantastic month with more people completing Library-offered courses than any other month in 2009. As mentioned in August's report, Douglas taught the remaining students from the combination Health and Body / Professional Letter Writing course. Since the health topics took a week longer than anticipated, some repatriated before taking the letter writing component of the course; nonetheless, 49 still packed into the CDRC classroom to learn the letter writing material. Upon feedback from the survey passed around the camp earlier in the month, Douglas also taught two additional letter writing courses (one in French and one in Swahili) in the afternoons, condensing the course into 3-4 days as opposed to the two weeks it previously took. Shifting the course to the afternoon and keeping it within a week received a good response and Douglas will continue to teach according to this schedule for future intakes.
Mwandiko Bora finished two intakes throughout September – the normally scheduled four week morning class, and a new two week intensive afternoon class. Although the afternoon class did not receive as many students as anticipated according to the interest survey, it was still a success and when Mama Kasenga recruits for October's intakes, she will determine the interest for morning and afternoon and create her schedule accordingly.
Overall, 15 completed CV / Professional Letter Writing in French, 97 finished the course in Swahili, and 17 completed Mwandiko Bora. The library had 453 visits throughout the month.
Lastly, with hopes to involve the children who had written letters to American students in a program of cultural exchange, Sara and Abby taught the children games such as Simon Says, or Simon Anasema and duck, duck, goose, or bata, bata, kuku – translating to duck, duck chicken, as Douglas did not know the translation for goose in Swahili. Although Abby and Sara planned to engage the children in a discussion about American children, this proved to be more difficult than anticipated. Nevertheless, the games were a success and they used the opportunity to remind the children to attend storytelling on Friday afternoons.
Indicators or Statistics:
See September spreadsheet.
Future Goals:
Substantial Problems or issues:
On September 5th, Library Assistant Mutuka requested to have the following Monday – Wednesday off to attend a religious convention. Because Sara was not given the requisite time needed to find a replacement, he was denied the request. Unfortunately, Mutuka informed Sara that he refused to come due to the importance of the convention, at which point he was given permission for the days off without pay and with a verbal warning. Although Douglas and Mama Kasenga were able to monitor the library for some of the time Mutuka was away, the library was forced to be closed Tuesday because nobody was available to work.
Wishes and Requests:
New rechargeable batteries for music library (we have some disposable ones that can be used in the interim)
By Sara WasserteilSummary of Project Status and Achievements:
August began with new material introduced into the CV/Professional Letter Writing courses, namely, an interviewing component Sara developed with Douglas and Augustine. On August 6th, it was announced that the European organization DAFI would be providing a scholarship for repatriating refugees to go to the University of Lubumbashi, and after receiving requests from many students, Douglas held a seminar on how to write an application letter. With excitement over this special class, students expressed interest in learning how to write other academic and business letters such as letters of resignation, thank you letters, requests for late payment, and requests for recommendations. Sara found various templates for such letters online, and in conjunction with a letter writing book found in the library, Douglas designed a special one week class where he taught over a half dozen letters students requested. In addition, upon learning that many of Kala's teachers did not know how to write simple letters, he spoke with Mr. Ngeleka about holding a special class for teachers on letter writing.
In conjunction with his responsibilities in the Library, Douglas also spent the first half of August training to be the new PM Assistant. It was decided that once he took on his new role on August 17th, his position as Library Coordinator would not be replaced, but rather, hours would be increased for Storytelling Assistant Mutuka and Nswima from the CDRC would take on Library responsibilities as well. Douglas would still be in charge of overseeing overall Library performance and reporting.
Lastly, upon the commencement of the special Health and Body / Professional Letter Writing intake, Douglas taught 35 adults, including many teachers and section leaders on how to write a professional business letter. He will teach the remaining 100 in September.
Storytelling and Mwandiko Bora went well. Both Mutuka, whose hours raised from six to 16 in mid-August, and who filled in for Douglas in some of his CV/Letter Writing courses,and Nswima, who began overseeing the music library twice per week did a great job with their new responsibilities.
Sara also spoke with Mr. Matende, the Education and HIV/AIDS Coordinator for World Vision about holding meetings in the library without advance notice and taking furniture unannounced. It was decided that she would provide him with a schedule of the library's activities so World Vision could schedule its meetings around the library classes' timetables.
Indicators or Statistics:
See August spreadsheet.
Future Goals:
Substantial Problems or issues:
None.
Wishes and Requests:
More current magazines.
By Sara WasserteilSummary of Project Status and Achievements:
Upon their return to Kala, the PMs shared the letters sent to Kala Peace Library from elementary students in Colorado with Douglas the librarian. Ecstatic about the letters, he hung them on the wall and recruited 58 children to write letters in response. The children were very excited and will return in August for a follow-up activity in which Douglas will help them translate their letters into English before they are sent back to the States with Abby.
Attendance continued to be in issue in French CV / Professional Letter Writing and Mwandiko Bora classes so a meeting was held with Douglas to encourage him to increase his recruitment efforts. These efforts were successful and by the end of the month there was a rise in attendance. In addition, the PMs and Douglas began exploring new programming ideas to attract more people, especially adults.
For the CV / Professional Letter Writing class, Sara worked with Douglas to incorporate an interviewing component into the curriculum.
Indicators or Statistics:
See July spreadsheet.
Future Goals:
Substantial Problems or issues:
The library furniture is used by IPs for different events in the camp with no regards to the library class and activity timetable. For example, 10 chairs and 19 benches were taken by the World Vision Education Department from 11 to 22 of July, unbeknown to the PMs.
Wishes and Requests:
A professional letter writing book or information from the internet. Also, more current magazines.
By Sara WasserteilSummary of Project Status and Achievements:
All library programming continued successfully in the month of June. An intake each of Mwandiko Bora, Swahili CV and Professional Letter Writing, and French CV and Professional Letter Writing were completed. Attendance in the CV classes was good, but Mwandiko Bora still remained low, albeit higher than the previous month. Many attempts have been made to increase attendance in this class, including chaning the day and time of the sessions, but the demographic which enrolls in this class (predominately women with no formal education) seem to be busier with other commitments, such as farming, than students enrolled in more technical or advanced subjects. The teacher continues to work towards improved attendance. There were 121 new visitors to the library in June, and French reading materials were overwhelmingly the most popular.
Indicators or Statistics:
See June spreadsheet.
Future Goals:
To explore cost-free ways of attracting more visitors, particularly women, to the library for quiet reading and music listening.
Substantial Problems or issues:
None.
Wishes and Requests:
None.
By Stephanie Puccetti
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