The Impact Children and Youth Library Association (ICYLA) was legally registered by the Ministry of Justice in April 2005 as a local non-government organization (NGO). It commenced its service on December 2005 through financial support received from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. in Australia. The preliminary funding from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. has now ceased and other funding sources are being actively sought.
The primary goal of the organization has been to provide a safe and positive place for children from low-income families to come and learn, do homework, study, enjoy quiet reading time and engage in constructive extra-curricular activities, achieving their full potential and succeeding in their education. This role is expanding to include education for families, educational sponsorship of children and other physical assistance (such as the provision of bathing and clothes) when required.
Older students hold a discussion group on the library steps - the library is frequently full to overflowing
Books sent from Australia through the Bank of I.D.E.A.S.
The target group for Impact is the general student population (aged 4-19) in the Kirkos sub-city area. Since its establishment it has managed to collect, from local and international sources, over 6,000 children’s and teenage books on a large range of topics, mostly in English. Over the first 20 months more than 77,000 visits have been made to the library by children of the area. During the summer program over 300 children per day attend the library while over 220 patrons per day now are direct beneficiaries of these collections.
Reading stories on a Saturday - I really enjoyed this inter-action with the kids
Kirkos is one of the largest school districts in Addis Ababa, and we have found a clearly demonstrated need in this community for a library. In this area there are 50-60 kindergartens, 37 elementary and junior high schools (from grade 1-8) and three high schools, with a total of 50,700 students. Of all these students only the high school students have libraries in their schools. Very few of the students in the Kirkos sub-city have direct access to libraries, and even these libraries are poorly equipped and generally have out-of-date books and a lack of professional staff members. They are frequently over crowded, have problems with book shortages, and lack an adequate supply of books specifically for children and young adults.
Oral evidence from the children who attend the library suggests that often, exposure to the library provides their first model of reading and learning as a desirable activity. This has assisted them to develop their reading skills and cultivate study patterns.
Some children initially attend only because their friends come to the library. However, they then establish reading and study habits and have access to resources to increase their general knowledge and support their education.
The library, which is open 6 days a week for 10-12 hours a day, provides a safe and positive recreation opportunity, which was not previously present in this area. Children and young people can use the library to meet with their peers, develop social connections and skills, and also develop their leadership skills.
The library staff provides positive role models; they make all the children feel at home and welcome, and allow them all the opportunity to contribute to making the library their own.
A young student happily studies in the safe and comfortable library environment
Everyone pitches in to get the scoria into the tent to expand the library space. Many young people volunteer to assist in running and developing the library in the way they wish to see it move forward. The library staff are powerful mentors for others.
Mrs. Rodriguez, who was initially the volunteer Project Manager at Impact, assisted in securing funding for a computer resource room, as well as for an audiovisual room, from the UNESCO Information and Communications Program. Eighty-five students have taken basic training on how to use computers; over 160 students have been trained to use the Internet; over 40 children attend the weekly video shows; and 100 students attended each summer tutorial program given by young student volunteers, which has been run twice. Twenty-five students were involved in a summer drama and art club initiated by the students themselves. Twenty-five students have competed in a Q&A competition prepared by volunteer students. Students also come to play a variety of indoor recreational and educational games.
The large numbers of young people who attend the Impact Library daily to study in an atmosphere conducive to learning, who take advantage of every opportunity offered to expand their knowledge, and who observe positive roles models in the young people who operate and volunteer at the library, demonstrate the significant need for this type of facility for Ethiopia’s next generation of leaders.
Children from low-income families do not necessarily have access to the facilities and resources required to be high achievers at school and in life. A clean, safe environment that encourages the positive values of integrity and hard work allows these children to persist in reaching their full potential.
Every afternoon the library is crowded with young people engaged in study
As well, the young people are provided with a safe environment for entertainment and relaxation and given opportunities to be involved in a wide range of activities to which they may not be otherwise exposed. These include learning games, drama, arts activities and movies. They can meet and safely interact with their peers in pursuits that encourage positive attitudes and an expansion of their interests, as well as supporting their school activities.
A young patron takes advantage of all the library has to offer - and doesn't the smile say it all?
The library intends to continue with its range of foundation activities, including:
- Access to educational and recreational materials
- Internet access to support learning
- Film screenings
- Summer tutorial programs
- English classes when possible
- Drama activities
- Computer training
- Providing opportunities for young people to volunteer
The library also has plans to expand its services and activities to include:
- The sponsorship of schooling for extremely disadvantaged children
- The provision of an after-school small meal (milk and a piece of fruit or other food) for children
- The commencement of both a pregnant women’s and a mother’s group to enable them to make social connections and to discuss and learn about:
# Baby care
#Infant health
#Child & family health
#Parenting skills
#Importance of reading
#Nutrition
#Cooking
#HIV/AIDS
- Storytelling and reading sessions for children in both English and Amharic
- An increased range of summer tutorials
- Development of the tent annex to provide seating and shelving, and so to provide additional space for all library activities
- The publication of picture story books in Amharic
When the library becomes sustainable and the model is proven, expansion to other areas will be considered.
The estimated annual cost for the first year of the project was approximately US$30,000; however the library operated on a restricted budget of $20,032, with the staff reducing the amount by not taking any pay so as to allow the project to proceed. In the second year the estimated need was less than that amount, or approximately US$18,600, however staff are still receiving extremely limited salaries, and at times working on a volunteer basis. We plan to initiate various projects that will in time help us recover our costs. The main project to support the library will be the startup of a service enterprise – Ethical Business Services – offering secretarial and other business services, Internet services, book and DVD rental and stationery sales. A startup budget of a little over US$8,000 is required to make this a reality.
The library fills a desperate and demonstrated need in Addis Ababa and operates through the passionate support and hard work of a small and dedicated group of young people who believe that a library really can make a significant and long-lasting contribution to improving the lives of young people. Henok, Eden, Helena and Konjit are to be congratulated for making this dream a reality and for making such a difference in the lives of so many.
If you wish to help secure the future of this vital project please feel free to contact me for more details at lyndall.osborne@gmail.com
Will post more soon
Lyndall
No comments:
Post a Comment