(Note - This blog was written by the refugee Project Coordinator for this project. As English is not his first language, there may be some minor grammatical errors in his writing. Care was taken to clarify any passages that were confusing, while leaving most of the blog untouched in order to preserve his original tone.)
A brief account of past month events:
The library project has recorded the most efficient operation in the course of the month. The achievement include excellent attendance, cleanliness and a conducive reading environment to our clients as commented by school representatives and community members at large.
All our achievements are due to improved supply of incentives and cooperation among the PMs, Library managers and the schools. So thanks to the schools management for their cooperations.
As we received new books from the United States of America; we were busy with inventories to make sure of all books we have in the 7 libraries in Meheba. Kindly I would like to extend my wish to all donors, supporters in the United States and other countries from their love. It is not a loss to invest in people as we know “Knowledge is Power.”
We hope to improve more than now as schools open by starting some new programs like (ideas):
All these to attract more clients and help interested members to build up public speaking skills.
By Robert MSummary of project status and achievements:
This month, many of the librarians explained that library attendance has been lower due to the weather. People have a hard time getting to the library when it is raining, and the students wish to go home right after classes when the weather is bad. Other than this, the libraries have been running well. Plans are being made to start a new current events discussion group in Meheba Friendly Library in January, and the PM is trying to secure a newspaper delivery that can be used for this. The Question and Answer program will begin again soon in all libraries, as the librarians are currently writing the questions to be submitted to the PM next week. Inventory is moving along well, as most of the libraries are finished or are nearing completion.
The schedule of librarians has somewhat shifted, due to the recent budget cuts, but the librarians have finally settled into the new schedule and everything seems to be running smoothly. The PM has been visiting the F nursery class, and, together with the F librarian, is preparing a post-test that will be given in December at the end of the class to measure progress.
The new librarian for Block ‘G’ is working out well, as Theophile is now preparing for imminent departure. The volunteer in Block ‘F’ will be a pre-school teacher for the new Mwangaza project so will no longer be working in the library.
Future activities and projections:
In the following months, the PM hopes to get new programming up and running in the libraries. In a November meeting with the librarians, there was a brainstorming session of inexpensive programming ideas, and the librarians seemed eager to explore these. Hopefully, we can keep this energy level high and begin some of these programs in January while staying within the budget.
Indicators and statistics:
Wishes or requests:
Is there anywhere we can solicit book donations from? The teachers and students repeatedly ask for new books.
By Sherie GertlerSummary of project status and achievements:
This month, many of the librarians explained that library attendance has been lower due to the weather. People have a hard time getting to the library when it is raining, and the students wish to go home right after classes when the weather is bad. Other than this, the libraries have been running well. Plans are being made to start a new current events discussion group in Meheba Friendly Library in January, and the PM is trying to secure a newspaper delivery that can be used for this. The Question and Answer program will begin again soon in all libraries, as the librarians are currently writing the questions to be submitted to the PM next week. Inventory is moving along well, as most of the libraries are finished or are nearing completion.
The schedule of librarians has somewhat shifted, due to the recent budget cuts, but the librarians have finally settled into the new schedule and everything seems to be running smoothly. The PM has been visiting the F nursery class, and, together with the F librarian, is preparing a post-test that will be given in December at the end of the class to measure progress.
The new librarian for Block ‘G’ is working out well, as Theophile is now preparing for imminent departure. The volunteer in Block ‘F’ will be a pre-school teacher for the new Mwangaza project so will no longer be working in the library.
Future activities and projections:
In the following months, the PM hopes to get new programming up and running in the libraries. In a November meeting with the librarians, there was a brainstorming session of inexpensive programming ideas, and the librarians seemed eager to explore these. Hopefully, we can keep this energy level high and begin some of these programs in January while staying within the budget.
Indicators and statistics:
Wishes or requests:
Is there anywhere we can solicit book donations from? The teachers and students repeatedly ask for new books.
By Sherie GertlerSummary of project status and achievements:
This month, many of the librarians explained that library attendance has been lower due to the weather. People have a hard time getting to the library when it is raining, and the students wish to go home right after classes when the weather is bad. Other than this, the libraries have been running well. Plans are being made to start a new current events discussion group in Meheba Friendly Library in January, and the PM is trying to secure a newspaper delivery that can be used for this. The Question and Answer program will begin again soon in all libraries, as the librarians are currently writing the questions to be submitted to the PM next week. Inventory is moving along well, as most of the libraries are finished or are nearing completion.
The schedule of librarians has somewhat shifted, due to the recent budget cuts, but the librarians have finally settled into the new schedule and everything seems to be running smoothly. The PM has been visiting the F nursery class, and, together with the F librarian, is preparing a post-test that will be given in December at the end of the class to measure progress.
The new librarian for Block ‘G’ is working out well, as Theophile is now preparing for imminent departure. The volunteer in Block ‘F’ will be a pre-school teacher for the new Mwangaza project so will no longer be working in the library.
Future activities and projections:
In the following months, the PM hopes to get new programming up and running in the libraries. In a November meeting with the librarians, there was a brainstorming session of inexpensive programming ideas, and the librarians seemed eager to explore these. Hopefully, we can keep this energy level high and begin some of these programs in January while staying within the budget.
Indicators and statistics: • Number of library interns (work study): 6 • Number of library volunteers: 0 • Number of visitors to the library: o MFL: 356 students, 136 community members o A: unavailable o B: 32 students, 3 community members o C: 12 students, 0 community members o D: 165 students, 55 community members o F: 107 students, 40 community members o G: 22 students, 23 community members • Books checked out/returned: o MFL: 68 checked out, 53 returned o A: unavailable o B: 0 o C: 0 o D: 5 checked out, 3 returned o F: 0 o G: 0 checked out, 0 returned • New Members: 4 • Nursery Classes in F: 8 o Attendees: unavailable
Wishes or requests:
Is there anywhere we can solicit book donations from? The teachers and students repeatedly ask for new books.
By Sherie GertlerSummary of project status and achievements:
The libraries ran well this month, although some cutbacks to the programming had to be made. ‘F’ nursery class is still running successfully, with attendance holding at around 25 kids per session. The PMs have decided that the nursery class will feed into the Mwangaza Project in January, at which point all of the children will be transferred out of the nursery class and into the preschool. At this point, if the ‘F’ librarian is still willing to work the extra hours without extra pay, the ‘F’ library will hold classes in reading and writing Swahili for adults.
The English classes have stopped permanently, after the PMs decided that moves towards English class consolidation and standardization must be made before continuing. The PM has chosen a replacement for Theophile, the ‘G’ librarian, who is scheduled to leave on resettlement to America in the next couple of months. The replacement, Jean-Claude, is currently being trained by Theophile and has been in the library everyday working as a volunteer.
Inventory is continuing, and the librarians have been extremely helpful in this process. Two libraries are finished completely, and the rest are well on their way. Due to budget constraints, the PM had to cut the supply budget significantly and the hours of the coordinator, Robert, down to ¾ time. A schedule has been worked out that still allows him to visit each of the libraries weekly.
Future activities and projections:
Next week, the PM will hold a meeting with all of the librarians together to brainstorm new ideas for cost-effective programming. The PM believes that any further plans for programming should come from the librarians themselves, as they are most intimate with the needs of their communities.
Indicators and statistics:
Substantial problems or issues:
Monitoring and evaluation encountered a few obstacles this month, but the kinks are being worked out. The PM believes that the communities just need some time to adjust to the detailed sign-in sheets before they become completely comfortable with filling them out.
Summary of project status and achievements:
The libraries have all been running very well. The new nursery class in Block F has been so successful that the number of child participants increased from 17 to 22 in just three weeks. The PM visited the class several times and the children seem to be excited and receptive to the activity. The PM believes that the class will continue until January, when the FORGE pre-school begins in Block F and absorbs this population of children. The Block F library has also gained a volunteer librarian who has been very helpful. The English classes in C have been stopped due to the cultivation schedule of the adult students. The C librarian has informed the PM that he is ready to restart the class whenever the students become available again. The English classes in G also halted for a couple of weeks, as the G librarian had to travel to Lusaka for resettlement interviews. The Dufatanye staff, however, absorbed these students into their English classes, and the lessons continued. The Project Managers have discussed the consolidation of FORGE English classes in Block G for the future.
The eight boxes of new books were catalogued and distributed to each of the libraries based on recommendations made by each community. Both the librarians and the headmasters were very grateful for the new shipment.
Future activities and projections:
Efforts to inventory and catalogue all of the books in all of the Meheba libraries have begun. The PM is in the midst of entering this information into a computer database that will contain data on every library book in Meheba. Ultimately, a paper copy of this file will be kept in each library so that community members can request books from other Blocks and an inter-library lending program can begin. The librarians believe this to be an important step forward and the cataloguing is moving quickly and efficiently.
Additionally, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms have been implemented in each library. A short test-run was conducted in two of the libraries this month, B and F, and proved successful. Official recording of indicators and statistics is scheduled to begin in each library on October 1st, so the next monthly report should contain the first full record of M&E information.
Indicators and statistics:
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