A box of wood

It’s Friday – a beautiful day, quite warm – and Masry has collected me at 2.00 pm after prayers at the mosque and there are a few things to do, hopefully to finish off a few things and bring a smile to everyone’s face!

Masry has been busy since I said goodnight to him yesterday evening – the car has been cleaned (mind you he gets it cleaned every few days and it’s always immaculate) – he’s bought the diaries for the Coasters and is ready for action. I notice the diary has a world map in the back; I can’t help but check out Australia and find it interesting that in this Egyptian diary, mostly in Arabic, the City of the Gold Coast is on the map. Masry notices me looking – “looking for your children” he says and he’s right of course. But the main thing I notice is that it’s a long way away.

I have finished Cloud Atlas this morning and now I really have nothing to read. I absolutely refuse to read anything I have yet AGAIN. I can nearly recite some of the handful of books I have by heart I think. After our abortive attempt to find La Maison Francaise in Degla Street yesterday, Masry had wanted me to bring the phone number so I have my copy of Egypt Today with all the bookshop phone numbers in it and sure enough the bookshop is supposed to be at 28 Degla.

So Masry says ring them and after I dial the number and get a recorded message – I’m supposed to put 02 in front of the number in the book, how am I supposed to know this I wonder – Masry dials it and gives it back to me. The conversation goes something like this:

Me: Hello, do you speak English?
Man on the other end of the phone: Yes, I speak English
Me: That’s great. Are you the bookshop in Degla Street?
Man: Degla Street Mohandaseen, yes
Me: So can you tell me please, do you have books in English?
Man: No – books?
Me: Yes books. So, only Arabic and French?
Man: Yes. Box?
Me: Books, you have books in Arabic and French?
Man: Box, you want a box? A box of wood.
Me: Books!
Man: Yes box, you want box? A box of wood?
Me: (Looking kind of bemused I think) Books! Books!
Masry: Give me the phone
Masry – some Arabic that I can basically understand as “Do you have books in English and French etc.”
A short conversation follows and Masry hangs up
Me: So no books in English? He kept asking me did I want a box of wood…
Masry: No, no books. I ask him about the books and he says – what are you talking about? This is a furniture shop!

Hysteria - well almost, tears at least. It’s not a bad way to start the day even if we still haven’t located a bookshop!

It’s been a good day. The voile was bought for the curtain sheers and all the lights except one bedroom also chosen and bought, a good price and very nice, although very classic in style and ornate with lots of gold and bulbs like candles. We delivered those to the house and checked out the ceilings again – they still look great!

And the first vehicle went out on its first job – the beginning of something grand and great I hope for Mohammad.

So now there’s hardly anything left to buy – drain covers, a doorbell, a peephole lens for the door, the big bathroom cabinet and some bits and bobs like soap holders and a mirror for the small bathroom. And then when all that’s done and the furniture has been bought the curtains for “reception” to be made. We’ve chosen the design but the fabric needs to be purchased and the curtains made. You’ll notice how I brush off buying the furniture so easily even though not all of it has been chosen.  But it will all work out. Today I am a total optimist. Like I said, it’s been a good day!

Love to everyone

Lyndall

Another 10 days gone!

I was lucky enough to see this amazing sight the other day, but unlucky enough to only have my little point and shoot and not to be on the roof for once - we were just leaving because of the rain. Still it was quite incredible to see.... Hope you enjoy it too







Well here it is Thursday already and the last couple of weeks seem to have flown by. The house is progressing, painting being the order of the day and colours almost settled. Preparation of the walls has taken the longest time, but the ceilings are now completed and looking fabulous and the walls will be started on Saturday or Sunday. Only a couple of colours to choose.

Some of the curtain fabric has also been purchased at last and is with the maker, we have decided to leave the main reception curtains until last, they are expensive and we figured we'd wait until all the furniture etc. was in and make a final choice.

The last of the plumber's requirements have been bought, the jacuzzi bath will be delivered on Saturday and the plumber will commence work then too. We'll go looking for lights on Sunday. The windows and glass doors have been delivered and are awaiting installation when the painter finishes. The carpenter has mostly finished will be back to put the door handles on when the painter has completed staining them etc.

All the appliances are also being delivered on the weekend to await the plumber and then the kitchen installation. So there will be a huge amount happening in the next 2 weeks if all is to be finished for me to move in. I only have my place in Mohandaseen until the 15th March.

This week has been a big week for Masry as he has taken delivery of the first two vehicles as a beginning for the new tour company and they are now all ready to begin work tomorrow. It's wonderful to see him so happy and excited. This also meant that I didn't see him for 2 days this week and a fairly boring two days they were - I am out of reading material and am reading David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas for the third time! It's a great book but really.... We tried to find a bookshop today near my place but like many things one tries to find in Egypt it was a failed attempt even though we drove the entire length of the street in peak traffic... There are 5 TV channels in English and sometmes there are good things but quite a few of the shows have seasons behind Oz and the movies have been seen before. I must admit that occasionally I get something really good however, it's just pot luck. Masry says when I go back to Australia in May I can bring back heaps of books - he might be sorry he said that when he sees the bill for the excess baggage!!!

Anyway, have been here a couple of hours now and better go, Friday tomorrow so it's mosque day for Mohammad and I won't see him until after 2.00 pm. So I get to do my housework and washing - lucky me!

Hope all is well at home

love to everyone

Lyndall

Impact Children's and Youth Library

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