A Library for Pobe Mengao

Summer Reading Camp at the Pobe-Mengao Library

2011-09-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

From September 8^th – September 13^th, the Pobe-Mengao library had its first ever summer reading camp for primary school students. The week-long camp consisted of 25 4^th graders (13 girls, 12 boys) randomly chosen from a class of 86. The camp’s goal was to help improve the students’ reading levels in a fun and welcoming environment. Sessions included reading activities, peer tutoring, storytelling, arts and crafts, song and dance, sports, instruction, and discussions on health, HIV/AIDS, malaria and life skills.

There were a couple decent readers but the rest were at an incredibly low-level. Five of the students could not read, write or recite the alphabet. The camp was led by Dounko the FAVL animator, Hamidou the librarian, myself, an assistant and one of the primary school teachers. The teacher was awesome and really worked closely with the students. Each of his lessons reflected errors he witnessed the students making throughout the day. We conducted evaluations—individual reading tests before and after the camp—and during the last tests we could see much improvement in the students. It was hard not to get emotional when Daouda, with a huge smile on his face, proudly recited the entire alphabet without error for the first time. As happy as I was, it was frustrating. I really only spent a total of about an hour or two with him individually, so that he understood the alphabet. It’s upsetting to think that at 12 years old, he’s been held back at has had such a disadvantage in school simply because no one took the one or two hours necessary to help him.

I thought the camp staff worked really well together. The teacher, Mr. Sawadogo, was awesome! His instruction sessions were straightforward, informative, and he made sure that his lessons focused on reading/grammar/spelling errors he noticed the students frequently making that very day. I was also pleased with Hamidou, the librarian. He is still relatively new and has a lot to learn but his efforts, hard work and motivation are obvious. During the beginning of the camp he seemed a little nervous about poking fun of himself, not wanting to lose respect in front of the children. But by the middle of the camp he was dancing and singing along with the children.

Throughout the week we had frequent visitors: parents, functionaries, older students, the Mayor and the Prefect. All came to witness the camp and offer words of encouragement. It was obvious that the community was really happy with the camp and are already asking that it continues every summer.

Asides from the camp, the library is doing very well. The building is in good shape, Hamidou has planted more plants and flowers and he has adopted a new kitten that lives in the library. Since the most popular library books are the “Aya de Yopougon” comic book series, the kitten is aptly named Aya de Pobe-Mengao.

A happy reader; Dounko reading a story to the kids

Pobe-Mengao Library, inside and out, during the reading camp.

Aya de Pobe-Mengao, who loves to sit/sleep on top of book.

Happy Birthday Pobé-Mengao Library!

2011-04-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

On April 6^th, 2011 The Pobé-Mengao Library celebrated its one year anniversary. We are extremely happy and very proud of how it has been running so far. Out of all the FAVL libraries in Burkina Faso, Pobé-Mengao is the second most visited library and the second highest in library subscriptions.

Here is a video we made about the library with students, villagers and officials of the Pobé-Mengao community. The library is off to a great start, but as the speakers will point out, there are still many things lacking (only 734 books!) and still much to be done.

The success of the Pobé library is due in large part toYOUR continued support. Help continue this success! Your donation will help us increase the number of library books and add more furniture to keep up with The Pobe-Mengao Library’s growing number of visitors.

Donate now!

Pobe-Mengao Library Update

2011-03-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

The Pobe-Mengao Library

SANOU Dounko, FAVL’s regional activities coordinator, recently came to Pobe-Mengao for 2 weeks to train the future librarian of Belehede (a village about 65Km from Pobe).

In addition to the librarian training, Dounko worked extensively with Hamidou, Pobe’s librarian, on organization and new activities to do at the Pobe library.

After the training I met up with Dounko in Ouaga to get an update on the library’s progress as well as plenty of new pictures.

Overall, Dounko says the library is doing very well. Everyday more than one hundred people come in and out of the library to read, study, play games or do activities. The people of Pobe were incredibly kind and welcoming, and when he announced his departure two weeks later, they protested with tears in their eyes. It was very hard, Dounko says, for him to leave.

During the course of the two weeks Dounko showed Hamidou how to improve and do numerous activities including arts and crafts, reading, tutoring, theatre and storytelling.

Arts and crafts to decorate the library

The two also went together to the different schools to publicise the library and, with the younger classes, do a training on the proper care and maintenance of library books. Dounko says that very evening the library had 23 new members.

How to care for a library book; Hamidou in CP1 classroom

In April the Pobe Library will be one year old! As for the library’s overall development, three words: slowly but surely! With the addition of Pobe’s new private secondary school, the library's study room is constantly full of older students using the blackboard to practice school lessons, especially math. Trees and plants were planted out front,the ‘his and her’ latrines are nearly complete and to my absolute delight, Hamidou had a local villager paint a beautiful Reading Tree on the library wall. The Library committee met during Dounko’s visit and plan to have committee members and volunteers each donate 100 mud bricks to fix the library’s surrounding wall.

The beautiful Reading Tree; members of the Pobe library committee

There are now more than 750 books in stock, which is still not very much. With your continued donations and support we plan on buying more books, especially the titles frequently asked for by library visitors. The most popular books continue to be African Literature—books written by African authors on topics that resonate with readers.

Young readers are still asking for more educational books on topics including African culture, health, relationships, family planning and HIV/AIDS. Dounko told me how a female student approached him and explained how much having access to books on HIV/AIDS has taught her. With these books she learned the truth about the HIV virus, de-mything false facts that she once believed. “I learned so much,” she told Dounko. “It totally changed my views and gave me a new appreciation of those suffering with AIDS.”

In to the library to study...or relax and do puzzles

Because of the vast amount of visitors, there have been complaints that there is not enough time/space to conduct library activities. Hamidou has invited several people to volunteer in the library once or twice a week to help organize activities. If a particular person stands out, we’re planning on hiring him or her as an assistant who will come weekly to do activities.

Reading stories with Dounko; Hopscotch Alphabet

Our big goal is still to be able to have solar panels on the roof, so students and readers can stay at the library even after dark. Also here at FAVL, we are reaching out to individuals, organizations, etc for a great project called Adopt-a Library. With about $1,200 you can adopt a FAVL library (like Pobe-Mengao’s!) for one year. Money goes toward library maintenance, new books and organization of library activities. I will post more details about the project soon!

Pobe librarian KONFE Hamidou reading a story; Pobe's future librarian?

Pobe's Library Page Presentation

2011-01-07T01:01:00.000-08:00

Library growing

2010-10-26T02:52:00.000-07:00

It's been more than seven months now since the opening of the Pobe-Mengao library. In these past few months, the library has continued to grow and grow.

There are now nearly 750 books in stock.

Hamidou, the librarian, says that the months of August and September were fairly slow, as teachers and students were on vacation and villagers were out cultivating in the fields. With the start of the new school year, however, October has been a whole different story.

This year the secondary school is transitioning into a lycee. A new primary school just opened as well as a new private secondary school. New schools mean more students, which has led to an increased attendance and participation in the library. Since October Hamidou says the library has been getting 100+ visitors a day!

African literature continues to be the most popular reading; authors Fatou Keita,
Amadou Hampate Ba and Camara Laye being the favorites. Chinua Achebe's Le monde s'effondre(Things Fall Apart) is another book frequently checked out.

As for the children, comic books, especially the Aya de Yopougon series, are still the most popular. The library has Aya 1 through 5 and none of the books are ever in the library for long. The minute one Aya is returned, it is immediately checked out again.

Hamidou also says some of the most checked out items include informational books regarding sex, sexuality, women's empowerment and HIV/AIDS, which is obviously a great thing to hear. A lot of these topics are still sensitive, taboo and difficult to talk about, but that doesnt mean people dont have questions. At least the library is a place where they can easily and comfortably find answers.

The goal for the Pobe library is to become a community gathering place and it is well on its way. In addition to reading, numerous villagers, children and functionaires come to the library to do puzzles and play local games including lido, ware and cards.

Video of the opening ceremony

2010-04-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

Opening ceremony of the Pobe Mengao library!

2010-04-18T07:21:00.001-07:00

Bibliotheque Villageoise de Pobe Mengao is now officially open! The opening ceremony was held on April 6^th, 2010. The ceremony itself was short and sweet, with several speeches, traditional dancing, an official tour and of course, feasting! Everyone was really curious, impressed and excited about the new library.

Since its opening the library is getting more and more visitors, the vast majority being students (which is obviously a great thing). Every day they come to sit and read or play with the puzzles/games.Hamidou has already begun doing activities, like reading and story telling.

The library consists of the main reading room, an outdoor, enclosed, back-patio game area; a front outdoor hangar area, and a study room complete with chalkboard and tables for students. There is the cultural room, where we plan to keep all sorts of artifacts, books, research materials on the Korumba culture (still in the works) and a storage room. We still have lots of work, areas of improvement in the future.

Its been great seeing the students come in, grab a book and sit down to read. Their reading levels are not where they should be, and Im hoping the library will be able to improve this, even improve their overall grades.

New library members checking out books...and bringing them home

Donkui, Adama and myself during the opening ceremony

$10,000 GOAL REACHED ! (and surpassed)

2010-03-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

The Pobe Mengao Library project has just received a $2,000 grant from the Friends of Burkina Faso organization. This money helped us reach and surpass our fundraising goal!
Because more than $10,000 was raised, the Pobe Mengao library is now officially managed by FAVL (Friends of African Village Libraries). This will ensure the continuity and sustainability of the library over the years.
Thank you all so much for contributing to this project. The grand opening of the Pobe Mengao library will be at the beginning of April. Please check the blog for more details and photos.

Pobe's Librarian

2010-02-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Hamidou Konfe, Pobe's new librarian!
Hamidou just completed an intensive training and is excited to get things moving along and ensure the library's opening in April.
Felicitations!

Library Video

2010-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a video from early January 2010 featuring Emilie, Hamidou and some students from Pobe Mengao.

Enjoy.

Renovations of library are underway!!

2009-11-24T03:09:00.000-08:00

Hello all

the main room before...

It’s been a long few months since the fundraising for the library in Pobe-Mengao started. The process has been hard and at times frustrating but the transformation into library has finally begun!

While the full $10,000 has still not been reached, enough money has been raised ($6885 so far, including all my savings!) for us to begin. I also have applied for grants and I expect to be able to raise the full amount within the next few months.

Step 1: DEMOLITION

taking down the walls!

Hamidou taking a breather

Giving us the Prefecture’s building as locale for the library was incredibly generous. The building is in good shape and is huge, giving us lots of different opportunities to work with in the future. Due to its vastness, however, we wanted the main room to be one large rectangular space. So, within a period of two days, Hamidou, Adama and the team of helpers not only took down the extra walls (with small pix-axe like tools) but recemented the floor, fixed any holes in the walls and replaced a rotting wooden beam on the ceiling.

Step 2: Painting

The guys couldn't get over me, a "weak woman," doing any manual labor and were shocked when they saw me climbing up a ladder to paint

Adama and I made a field trip to Djibo to buy all the paint and supplies needed for another weekend job. Again, within two days the men had the entire building walls painted an off-white color. On the bottom half of the main room's walls, to reduce cost, we followed the previous pattern and re-splattered the walls with a cement/stucco like material. Its not the most eye-pleasing thing but I figure once we add decorations and posters it'll liven up the room. In all the other rooms the walls are off-white with a blue/turquoise colored trim.

Since physical progress can now be seen, a lot more people are taking interest, stopping into the room to offer help, praise or support. It's been great to see the number of people who want to ensure this project's success. But Hamidou, who since day ONE has been supportive and was the first one to volunteer his hands and time, and Adama have truly taken over this project, I merely sit on the sidelines now and watch (which is what I was hoping for.) With Hamidou’s constant help and Adama’s expertise on buildings, masonry, and his having contacts that give us great deals on supplies, this project has been incredible.

The renovations are not quite done. We underestimated the size and height of the building and ran out of paint. Though within the next week, renovations should be complete!

the room after nearly-complete renovations!

Earlier in the week we held our first official meeting, complete with all the head honchos of Pobe and villagers who came in support the project. The purpose was to emphasize that this is a project for the entire community and that they are essentially the ones who must ensure its care and sustainability.

During the meeting we made our Official library committee and created more posts within it. It was so wonderful to see everyone arrive and we had so many people volunteer for the different positions. They are the ones who will soon decide who will be the librarian.

The next step involves Elisee, the FAVL rep, to come for a visit and check out the site. We will also start ordering furniture (tables, chairs, desks, bookshelves) and of course, BOOKS!

Donations are still very much needed. Please continue to help support Pobe's library!

Please help support the Library

2009-05-25T00:09:00.001-07:00

Hello

As you all know, my name is Emilie and I’m currently serving in the Peace Corps as a Girls Education and Empowerment volunteer in the village of Pobe-Mengao in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
After teaching at the school, speaking to villagers, students, teachers and other functionaries, one thing has become quite clear: Pobe Mengao needs a library.
With no electricity, students are forced to study by the light of lanterns. Since not every family can afford lanterns, it’s common to find nightly study sessions at someone's home, with children sitting or lying on mats on the ground to study. Students also do not have textbooks, since neither the families nor the school can afford enough for the 100-plus students per class, so students study only with the notes that they quickly and vigorously copy from the blackboard. The library, which ideally would have solar panels, would offer students a place to study late into the night.
A library, open to the entire community, would provide plenty of interesting, educational and fun reading materials for all. It would offer students and villagers the opportunity to read books like novels, biographies, non-fiction (in French and in local languages) and learn more about the world outside their village. The literacy rate in Burkina is 28%, with women it falls to 16%. In the library an area would be created to hold literacy classes. This would give the villagers, especially women, an opportunity for education and knowledge that could greatly increase their overall lifestyle in areas like nutrition, health and economic status.

If enough money is raised, Friends of African Libraries, a non-profit based in California, would help manage and oversee the library, promoting sustainability. They would advise on the needed materials (books, furniture, latrine) and help oversee its progress. But more importantly they would oversee budgeting, making sure the librarian is paid and the donated money is put to correct use. FAVL will help if I am able to raise $10,000 (at least $5,000 of which is to ensure its sustainability for at least 5 years). It's a lot of money, but I’m optimistic it can be done. With the economy in its current state, money is tight. However, in Burkina, a little goes a long way. For example:

10$ - Covers the purchase of 2 new African novels or other reading materials

$50 – Pays for the six month subscription of a nationally-read newspaper for the library

$100- Covers the librarian's salary for a month

$500 – Pays for the purchase of bookshelves, tables and chairs

$1,200 – Covers the cost and installation of solar panels for a library

Donate by mail with a check to:

Friends of African Village Libraries
P.O Box 90533
San Jose, California 95109-3533

Be sure to earmark the check to Pobe -Mengao

(Canadian Donors, please see side bar for a Canadian address)

For more information visit http://www.favl.org/

The community of Pobe Mengao will contribute 25% of the funds. They have already contributed a building for the library and when the time comes much of their contributions will be done through manual labor.
In addition we'll ask for money through grants but any contribution, large or small, will help immensely. Updates on fundraising and the library project will be kept on the blog. So please help Pobe Mengao have a library. For the sake of the villagers, for the sake of the students and for the sake of education!

Thank you

Emilie Crofton

Top photo: The library commitee:
(L to R) Konfe Hamidou: President du APE (Association Parents d' Eleves)
Konfe Inoussa: Conseiller de la Mairie
Emilie Crofton, Peace Corps Volunteer
Monsieur le Prefet de Pobe Mengao

Bottom photo: possible location of the future library!