Soon we’ll be busy at the local primary school, helping the newly formed Library Committee set up its first-ever library. The school’s principal worked to renovate an old building into a great library space, and we worked to build a stock of books for its shelves. And within a month from now, both of those efforts will yield big results.
As many of you know, this nationwide book donation project reached its fundraising goals (thanks donors!) and Books for Africa shipped out their container of about 30,000 books last month. They should arrive here around early April, at which time the sorting and distributing will begin. Our school lays claim to just over 1000 of them!
PCVs from 26 different rural communities throughout Swaziland, including us, joined together on this Peace Corps Partnership Project. We were able to raise US$10,300 to cover the costs of books and shipping/customs expenses— and we set a Peace Corps record: the most individual donors to a single PCPP fundraising effort in the history of that program. Wow! Thanks everyone who contributed.
All 26 schools also had to raise money to cover various in-country expenses.
We’re preparing for the book’s arrival. Last month we attended a workshop to learn how to set up a school library, and in a few weeks we’ll teach that workshop to our school’s new Library Committee—covering things like book organization systems, making subject catalogues and title catalogues, establishing a lending system… lots of details. We expect to be busy with the Library Committee throughout April and May.
soon these shelves will hold books!
It may seem strange that a Swazi school library be stocked with English-language books, so I’d better explain. English is the mandated language for all education here. In fact, it’s the co-official national language (along with siSwati), and it’s the official language for all “government business.” As children progress through the grades, they must pass certain subject exams, and the most important of these exams is the English competency exam. In fact, students who do not pass the grade-5 English exam do not qualify to advance to the High School level. Without a firm grasp of English, the rationale goes, they’ll be unable to understand the teacher’s lessons in the upper grades. So for better or worse, this English-language mandate means that attaining fluency in English is extremely important for all Swazi students. By having a good library of English-language books for both the students and English teachers to use, our primary school will be much better equipped to meet these mandated education requirements—and the kids will have a better chance of graduating.
That said, it is important that these libraries properly integrate these English-language mandates with the cultural heritage of Swaziland and other Southern African traditions. In that spirit, school faculty members and PCVs are making every effort, to bring important cultural documents and reference materials into these libraries. We are working to include titles by regional authors, culturally relevant visual aids, siSwati language periodicals and other reading materials, and any other things that will help to encourage a sense of respect and pride in the Swazi culture. Plus, we’re encouraging the Library Committee to consider using the library for various cultural events, such as hosting local guest speakers to discuss local history and tell stories.
We’ll keep you all informed as this exciting project develops! And we want to send a big thank you to our Arizona friends, the students and teachers in the Verde Valley for their generous contributions. They raised money and purchased 185 children’s books for this library—and as soon as they’re on the shelves we’ll send you pictures! You are a special group of kids and teachers, and we’re so thankful for your efforts.
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