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L i b r a r y P r o j e c t |
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Participating in the children's library project in El Bosque, Nicaragua has been a very positive experience for FOG. El Bosque is a new rural community constructed to house survivors of Hurricane Mitch. The children's library is an initiative of a local Nicaraguan organisation called MEC that has been very active in the construction of the community and the resettlement of survivors. With financial support from FOG and other groups, MEC built the children's library, finishing construction of the main facility in October 2000. The library officially opened its doors in January 2001. We supported a second phase of the library, a second building for the children to study in and it was completed in December 2001 and officially in use as of February 2002. We are confident that the library will be a source of good experiences for the children in El Bosque, and has the potential to be the center of many community activities, from meetings to social events.
For more information about the project, read on below. You can jump ahead to various subjects by clicking on the subject headings that follow: |
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The library is a simple building constructed of cement blocks with a corrugated tin roof. It is about 60m2. With the help of local children, the inside was decorated with an attractive mural. The furniture is very simple - wooden tables and chairs - and the books are housed in wooden shelving units with glass doors. FOG contributed the initial book collection of about 120 children's books.
There may be some future additions to the library - like an outdoor porch or sheltered reading area - but the main project is completed and the families in the community are using this new facility.
It is hard for many Canadians to imagine how rare books can be in the lives of most Nicaraguan children. The public schools do not have libraries. There are no public libraries. Families often can't afford textbooks, so kids learn at school just by copying off the board into their notebooks. Many parents are illiterate themselves, and so there are no books in the home. As a result, children can finish elementary school and still be functionally illiterate, never having actually read a book.
The children and youth of El Bosque face even further challenges. As survivors of the mudslides caused by Hurricane Mitch, which buried their homes and communities, they have many psychosocial needs as they adapt to the radical changes in their lives. First there was the trauma of the hurricane itself: the mudslides caused by the hurricane killed approximately 2000 people in the area. The people in El Bosque either had their homes destroyed or damaged, or were displaced because their homes are considered unsafe. Then there was a period of up to two years of living under difficult conditions in temporary shelters. And finally there is the long period of adjustment as the new community in El Bosque is settled and begins the process of becoming a solid community.
It is our hope that the Children's Library will help challenge illiteracy, allowing local children the opportunity to improve their reading skills, develop their abilities of expression, and contribute to their success in school. We also hope that the resources and programs offered by this library will contribute to the children's mental health and their adjustment to their new lives.
In the fall of 1999, Anneli Tolvanen told us that MEC was interested in building a children's library in El Bosque. At the time, only five houses had been constructed in the community - now there are over two hundred! Anneli worked with Marta Rivera, a leader of MEC, on the proposal and budget and the FOG board approved it in late 1999. Our original commitment was to send $2500 toward the $8500 project, but by the end we were able to contribute $7400 - thanks to the support of our members, friends, and partner organisations.
The library building was finished in October 2000 and officially began functioning in January 2001.
For information about the community of El Bosque, please refer to the web page that can be reached by clicking here.
Here are some of the people and groups who have directly helped us in our support of the El Bosque project:
Anneli Tolvanen
Anneli (now a FOG member) lived in Nicaragua for many years working on various social projects including many community libraries. She has been key to the development of this library project and has been active in many of its aspects, from the project proposal to the training of library staff.
The Children Helping Children Club
This club was formed in Twain Sullivan Elementary School in Houston, British Columbia, in response to Hurricane Mitch. The members of the club, overseen by Carroll Airey, have raised a large percentage of the project financing through activities such as holding bake-sales and running bottle-drives. To read Carroll's description of CHC and her experiences surrounding it, click here.
Casa Canadiense
Most of the funds that we raise for this project are being overseen by Casa Canadiense. They help us in our fundraising in Canada, and in transferring the funds to MEC in Nicaragua. The Casa Canadiense office in Managua also helps us by being a reliable point of communication between us and MEC.
The Brandon Tools for Peace Group
This group has contributed funds towards the construction of the library.
CoDevelopment Canada
CoDev is a non-profit organisation based in Vancouver BC that works to build North-South partnerships for a socially just world.
FOG partnered with CoDev in September 2000. Through this partnership, FOG was able to have some of our financial contributions to the project matched by funds from CIDA (the Canadian International Development Agency).
Here are some groups that have supported the El Bosque Library independently of FOG:
St. Paul's Anglican Church
This church, located in Hamilton, Ontario, donated most of the money for the construction of some of the bookshelves used in the library.
The Francoeur Foundation
The Francoeur Foundation gave a donation that was used to purchase some of the books as well as to build the bookshelves.
The storybook translating Group in Hamilton
This group provided many of the initial books brought to El Bosque.
Below are some of the other photographs relating to this project that we've collected. You can view larger versions of most of them by clicking on them.
Fair Opportunities Group
Marta standing in front of the books and shelves that were donated
for the temporary library that was run out of the MEC office.
The concrete blocks that were purchased in June using FOG funds.
The sacs of cement that were purchased in June using FOG funds.
Berj standing in the
doorway of the half completed library.
The library under construction. You can see the MEC office in the
background to the right.
Later on in the construction.
Unloading the floor tiles for the library.
Picking up fresh tortillas for lunch. The library will also be for her.
After Construction
This page last modified on 01 Aug, 2002
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