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Tchawale Primary School in Dowa, Malawi has 1311 students and eleven full time teachers.  There are eight classrooms-- four temporary and four permanent.  Most of the students learn under trees with the assistance of a moving chalk board. While the school does own some textbooks and reading books, they have often been found piled in closets collecting dust due to the lack of an effective system to distribute them.

 

This community is in need of a library and reading room to store text books and other reading materials as well as to be used as another classroom for instruction.  During three weeks earlier this summer, the people of the village, a Peace Corp volunteer, and a small group of friends and family in the US raised the $6000 needed for construction.  The plan now is to raise an additional $2000 in seven days and to buy 400 new books (300 picture, 100 chapter) for the library's grand opening on September 8th, World Literacy Day.

 

The larger project details can be found here: http://www.parkwantstobuildalibrary.blogspot.com/.

 

The project is absolutely happening.  We will raise the money and fill the libarary that is under construction.  Our theory of change is that to the degree that books are available, people (especially kids) will read.  At present, the children of Tchawale do not have easy access to books.  We intend to provide a better selection of books and make them very available.  

We have already researched the process for building the library and enlisted a contractor to plan and carry out the work.  We also partnered with the village itself to provide the funds to build the library.  The village raised $2000 of its own money to contribute to this project.  We have located book stores and government book vendors in Malawi from whom the books will be purchased.  Meagan is obviously living in the village so she is well-placed to advise on specific needs for the library and is working with the deputy of the school to oversee an effective system of distribution.

The impact of these books will be enormous for the members of this village.   More books and a greater selection will immediately translate into more kids reading.  Given the fact that the members of the village have themselves sacrificed to pay for the library, it is apparent that there is a strong commitment to education among the village.  This library will be a powerful resource for the community.

Luckily, the cultural bias in Malawi is favorable towards education and reading.  The challenge is lack of resources to provide them with educational opportunity. The village is prepared to heartily accept any help which can be offered.  With regards to this project, if you build it, they will come...If there is a social context to overcome, it is poverty.  We have accomplished a great deal already with overcoming this obstacle.

 

Our understanding is that the library edifice is being constructed in such a way that normal maintenence is all that will be required to ensure sustainability of the project.  Our intention is to provide an inventory of books to stock the library and combine it with the existing books held in the homes of village members.  With proper care and the addition of books each year through the community, our belief is that this library will be fully sustainable.

 

 

At ten years old, he may be young but his heart is big. Park has a love for people and places and a desire to help those in need. With an aunt working with the Peace Corps in Africa, he saw the perfect opportunity for a project. Together the idea for a community library came to life with the goal of promoting literacy. His favorite book? The Percy Jackson series, of course. A favorite amoung many 10-year old boys.

After graduating from BYU, Meagan accepted an assignment to teach science in the secondary schools of Malawi with the US Peace Corps. After her arrival in the village of Tchawale, she mentioned the abscence of a library to her nephew, Park. Together they sprung into action. When Meagan's not teaching, planting a garden, or acting as a general contractor (specializing in clay bricks) she likes to kick back and read. She remembers Jane Eyre being the first book she considered reading twice.

After teaching school for 14 years, Patricia accepted a position at the school in Tchawale as Deputy (Assistant Principal)--a position she has held for the past 10 years. When not at school, she keeps busy caring for her four young children (three girls and a boy ages 1-10) and teaching Meagan the ins and outs of village living. A devout Roman Catholic, she loves reading the Bible.