Gikonko Rwanda Library Project
Donation protected
Hi, I'm Vanessa, and 'm a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer ( Rwanda, June 2014 to July 2016).
Thank you for all the support for this project, I am no longer collecting funds for this project but updates can be found here .
As a health volunteer, my main focus was to create health projects and activities in my community, however as a secondary project I started up the Gikonko Library Project with the Gikonko Multimedia Community Center.
Why a library project?
My village (located in Gikonko Sector, in Gisagara District in the Southern Province of Rwanda) has a multimedia community center, which offers access to internet, printing, and has even been used as a space for agricultural trainings. However, the library within this center is an almost vacant room, with less than 50 books which are only on farming and none for children and other community members who are learning English and improving their literacy in the local language, Kinyarwanda. The center's manager would love for this library to expand and become a better resource for the whole community. We are working with book organizations to get book donations, but the resources are limited so I would love additional support for this project!
What is the money for?
I am hoping to acquire most of the books for this project through personal and organizational book donations. The $2000 I hope to raise will be for these additional costs:
-Shipping the books from the U.S. to Rwanda
-Purchasing books in Kinyarwanda and French
- Library furniture
-Library Signage to publicize the library
-Health Signage printing and lamination: In collaboration with the health center where I work, the library will have posters and pictures displaying good health practices, focused on Malaria, hygiene & sanitation, and nutrition
-Miscellaneous materials: pens, pencils, record books, chalkboard, chalk, bookmarks
Book Donation Drive:
*In addition to accepting monetary donations, I am also holding a Book Donation Drive in Bucks County, Pennsylvania from February 2015 to March 31st, 2015.
Bucks County, PA Drop off locations:
-New Hope Solebury High and Middle School libraries
Looking for new or gently used books! Children's books, young adult, and adult. All genres are welcome. Dictionaries, phrasebooks, and translation guides! Because books will be for a library located in a rural Rwandan community, please ensure that the subject matter is appropriate. Books in English, French, and Kinyarwanda only.
Ultimate Project Goal:
My ultimate goal is to have a fully stocked library in the Gikonko Sector by June 2015, which would be accessible to over 23,000 people, which includes over 7,000 students and people of all educational levels. The library will have books in English, Kinyarwanda, and French, to help improve literacy in the local language as well as to support Rwanda's transition from a French to an English speaking school system and country. The library would also be a place for students to study and serve as a meeting place for Gikonko Health Center health programs, lessons, and activities.
Need more information?
If you have any questions, or would like to donate books but cannot get to one of the drop-off locations, please contact me.
Check out my website for more information about my Peace Corps journey!
Click here for more information about the Gikonko Multimedia Community Center.
Thank you so much for your support.
Vanessa
Thank you for all the support for this project, I am no longer collecting funds for this project but updates can be found here .
As a health volunteer, my main focus was to create health projects and activities in my community, however as a secondary project I started up the Gikonko Library Project with the Gikonko Multimedia Community Center.
Why a library project?
My village (located in Gikonko Sector, in Gisagara District in the Southern Province of Rwanda) has a multimedia community center, which offers access to internet, printing, and has even been used as a space for agricultural trainings. However, the library within this center is an almost vacant room, with less than 50 books which are only on farming and none for children and other community members who are learning English and improving their literacy in the local language, Kinyarwanda. The center's manager would love for this library to expand and become a better resource for the whole community. We are working with book organizations to get book donations, but the resources are limited so I would love additional support for this project!
What is the money for?
I am hoping to acquire most of the books for this project through personal and organizational book donations. The $2000 I hope to raise will be for these additional costs:
-Shipping the books from the U.S. to Rwanda
-Purchasing books in Kinyarwanda and French
- Library furniture
-Library Signage to publicize the library
-Health Signage printing and lamination: In collaboration with the health center where I work, the library will have posters and pictures displaying good health practices, focused on Malaria, hygiene & sanitation, and nutrition
-Miscellaneous materials: pens, pencils, record books, chalkboard, chalk, bookmarks
Book Donation Drive:
*In addition to accepting monetary donations, I am also holding a Book Donation Drive in Bucks County, Pennsylvania from February 2015 to March 31st, 2015.
Bucks County, PA Drop off locations:
-New Hope Solebury High and Middle School libraries
Looking for new or gently used books! Children's books, young adult, and adult. All genres are welcome. Dictionaries, phrasebooks, and translation guides! Because books will be for a library located in a rural Rwandan community, please ensure that the subject matter is appropriate. Books in English, French, and Kinyarwanda only.
Ultimate Project Goal:
My ultimate goal is to have a fully stocked library in the Gikonko Sector by June 2015, which would be accessible to over 23,000 people, which includes over 7,000 students and people of all educational levels. The library will have books in English, Kinyarwanda, and French, to help improve literacy in the local language as well as to support Rwanda's transition from a French to an English speaking school system and country. The library would also be a place for students to study and serve as a meeting place for Gikonko Health Center health programs, lessons, and activities.
Need more information?
If you have any questions, or would like to donate books but cannot get to one of the drop-off locations, please contact me.
Check out my website for more information about my Peace Corps journey!
Click here for more information about the Gikonko Multimedia Community Center.
Thank you so much for your support.
Vanessa
Organizer
Vanessa DC
Organizer
Buckingham Township, PA
