Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Landscape tourism in Burkina Faso
Some photos for our three day trip to the south west of Burkina Faso. We spent an afternoon exploring with a very nice guide, Issa Gourou, who is affiliated with the Cane a Sucre hotel (where we stayed, very nice but expensive). The Domes de Fabedougou were fabulous, the Cascade de Karfiguela very refreshing, and the hippo lake of Tengrela revealed lots of hippo ears and eyes (they mostly stayed underwater) but also some beautiful lily pads and flowers.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Why oh why...?
Did I let myself stay up to 2:00am reading a murder mystery in Ouagadougou... Is it because I am helping run a library project that I feel the compulsion to read, and read again....Sunday, April 01, 2007
Five librarians at a workshop
Because that is what we at FAVL do… Dounko, Ivette, Hakahoun, Halidou and Sylvie are at our new ‘regional office’ (a room in a compound in Hounde that we rent for $15 dollars a month) where we meet every month to discuss library performance etc.
Keeping accounts
The long term success and sustainability of small community libraries depends on two things- the willingness of donors to keep funding these modest ventures that have such an important impact, and the ability of the librarians and local management to keep accurate accounting of those funds. Accounting is something we treat very seriously, even while we understand how hard it is in places like Burkina Faso and Ghana, where most of the population is not literature, and where our librarians have typically gone to school to the 10th grade level. Are you a retired accountant who wants to spend a year in Reading in national languages
Our emphasis in the libraries we support is to have books that people want to read, not books that we think are good for them to read (what librarians call the Jean-Paul Sartre vs Danielle Steele problem). In Burkina our readers by huge margins want to read African novels (and not Barbie goes shopping). In
Hard or easy?
Visiting libraries looks easy (smiles, beers, Mercedes) but remember, it is 105 degrees, so your clothes feel like they have been in the oven. The Mercedes is a 1987 diesel, with no air conditioning. It is the car of choice in
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
“Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” is a wonderful children’s song. So here is what happened in the Sumbrungu library last week when I was there for a late night (9:00pm) visit with Darius, the night librarian. He was there with 10 children, giving them practice dictation words. He would tell them words and they had to work together to figure out how to spell them, and the he tested them on their spelling. The bolder girls saw he was distracted and came up to me and started asking how to spell “Home” or “House”. When I started spelling the words, they screeched, “Darius, do you see??? Darius, he is telling us the words!!!” Later, we were still chatting with the children and a girl came up and asked me to sing a song. I tried a few, and eventually segued to “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” Some of the girls gasped. “But,” they cried, “That is Mia and Jenevieve’s song. How can you sing that song? Do you really know that song?” Mia and Jenevieve, of course, were FAVL interns at the library last summer, about eight months ago. Their drawings and those children’s drawings they brought with them are still on the walls (see entry below). A big impact!
Reading in Ouagadougou
I am reading Amos Oz's memoir, A Tale of Love and Darkness... sad but exhilarating writing. All the more marvellous because translated; Unlike Orhan Pamuk's Snow, another excellent book I read in the first weeks here, where the translation intrudes on occasion. Still, nothing like reading excellent fiction by two writers who themsemves love reading and be consolidating a library program in rural villages... goosebumps? Or is it the heat, now hovering between 40-45 (105-110).
Monday, March 26, 2007
Baobab trees one of the deights of Africa
Library "rules" and picking cotton under the sun not so nice, but hunting birds with slingshots beats reading most days... these boys don't know how to read anyway- only abou 40 percent of kids go to school.
Pictures from Ghana and Burkina
Top to bottom: The sign for Bolgatanga regional library; handing over funds to CESRUD- it takes a long long time to handcount 42 million cedis (about 4,000 dollars); Donkoui- coordinator in BF Tuy province, and adorable daughter Sylvie.
What does a FAVL “inspection” trip end up doing?
A long entry for today. I typed up some notes and reflections from my visit to Bolgatanga area in Ghana last week. Our idea at FAVL is to combine financial support for community libraries with a lot of attention to management. In Ghana, we are fortunate to partner with CESRUD, a local NGO established by some dedicated public servants from Sumbrungu village. They really do a great job of helping the librarians in Sumbrungu and Sherigu. But there is always room for improvement… so here without much editing are my notes from my trip that I sent back to the librarians and CESRUD board members.
A few reflections after my visit of last week.
Before anything, a special thank you to Darius and his sister for helping us to find some “torozom” (the white powder from the pods of the baobab tree). In Sudan I used to drink juice made from this powder all the time (in arabic it is called “gongolaise”) and I was so happy to find some and taste it once again. Delicious!
1) FAVL was very pleased to be able to make a donation of 42 million cedis to the CESRUD account for continuation of work on the Women’s Center in Sumbrungu, with the eventual completion of the (south?) wing that would be suitable for the Sumbrungu community library (which would concentrate on books for children, such as story books and school books, and perhaps should start thinking about how to better serve women, including perhaps eventually hiring and training a woman librarian). We anticipate that we will make another contribution of about 25 million cedis in April. For purposes of our donor “satisfaction” it would be wonderful if when I come in April I could get some pictures showing the progress in the building over the previous month. Who knows, we may then be able to quickly fundraise for another 25 million cedis enabling completion of the work before June!
2) FAVL is in discussion with three university-level volunteers for the Sumbrungu and Sherigu libraries. I think for their trip we should, as we discussed, have a fixed “administrative fee” that CESRUD would receive for their time in Bolgatanga. This would include perhaps: (1) meeting and greeting by CESRUD board member upon their arrival in Bolgatanga, (2) welcome dinner with 2-3 CESRUD board members and librarians, (3) tour of Bolgatanga town, health clinic, and market with a librarian, (4) help in purchasing bicycle in market (that will eventually be left in women’s center for use by future volunteers and library personnel), (5) tours – on bicycle—of Sumbrungu and Sherigu, (6) tour of primary and JSS school, (7) three week “debriefing” lunch with a CESRUD board member and librarians- how is work going? Questions? (8) Assistance as needed for emergency health issues, or other emergency issues (theft, assault).
On the functioning of the libraries… I had a few reflections on the physical state of the libraries. I understand how in Sumbrungu the library will move hopefully in the summer to the Women’s Center. And in Sherigu perhaps the longer term is also to move over the Catholic Center and refurbish the roof there as soon as the Sumbrungu Women’s Center is completed. So there is no need to do much for the building. However, I do think that the furniture (tables and benches) could use some precautionary maintenance (varnish/paint/resurface) to protect it for the longer term. Can a carpenter be hired to do that protection? Also, I noticed on the walls in Sumbrungu that there are pictures by children and Mia and Jenevieve. These pictures are nice, but I think the idea is that they should be “renewed” every few months. Perhaps some petty cash funds can be used to buy drawing paper and colored crayons or paints, and some of the older children can make some decorations. Just four or five children would do a nice job I think… especially if they were encouraged to draw something about reading and the library or school. Also, I think both libraries need to have a better system of registering books so that it will be easier to conduct periodic inventories of the books. Perhaps each book when it is registered into the book registry accession book could be given a number (starting from 1, going to about 1000 now for each library). That way, when it is time to do an inventory, it will only take a few hours. We can talk about this in April. Finally, and this is for Sherigu especially, both libraries should have the library hours posted inside *and* outside the library. Both libraries should had a sign indicating the library (how is it possible that Sherigu still has no sign, even a wooden sign on the building?). Since Claudia is funding the storyteller, there should be regular hours for the storyteller posted on the library. In Burkina Faso, each library has a wooden bulletin board that is hung outside the library when the librarian opens the library, and this has announcements and hours and regulations. These are not very expensive to make and are very convenient.
Some more specific comments… Each library should have their “minutes” book up to date, not just with minutes of official meetings, but also short summaries of informal meetings or events in the library. That way when a visitor comes from FAVL or CESRUD they can take a quick look through the minutes book and see what issues have been under discussion. We discussed also the libraries perhaps training and having some student assistants, in JSS or SS who are very good readers and who would come to the library to help younger students with their lessons or with reading storybooks. We discussed also with Lucas about the possibility of making a large banner that would be used for celebrations etc., saying something like “Sumbrungu Community Library, supported by CESRUDand FAVL” with a picture of a child reading, and possibly a slogan about the importance of reading. Likewise, we discussed the idea of ordering Lacoste shirts with the slogan and picture also. I will leave it to you to think about that and perhaps find out the costs and perhaps we can discuss further via email or when I come in April.
On the accounts… In general Lucas is keeping excellent accounts, and keeping me regularly posted of the CESRUD bank accounts, the CESRUD petty cash accounts, and the Sumbrungu petty cash account. It is excellent work. For Bernard and Sherigu, I find that I do not have a statement of accounts for the last four months of 2006 (Sept-Oct-Nov-Dec). Bernard, could these please be prepared, or copied if you already sent them, and given to me at the end of April when I return? Thank you.
A few specific things on the accounts...
First, every month the coordinator honorarium of 250,000 cedis is being deducted. Since CESRUD board members are perhaps sometimes busy, I wanted to make sure that someone in CESRUD is receiving this regularly. If not, please speak with Lucas!
Second, in the accounts Rex is listed as having received a transfer of 3,030,000 cedis for expenses with Kathy Knowles visit. But in my accounts I have the transfer as 3,644,800. I do not have the receipts here with me, but I wonder if Rex perhaps you have the receipt and we can confirm whether I or you or Lucas has made a mistake in accounting. Not a large amount, but I like the account books to be 100% correct.
Third, on 19/9/06 in the CESRUD petty cash accounts there is listed a transfer of 200,000 to a petty cash account of a library, but it does not say which one- Sherigu or Sumbrungu. Since I do not have the Sherigu accounts for that period it is a question to be resolved. Also, in the CESRUD petty accounts there is listed a transfer to Sherigu petty cash of 200,000 in October 2006 but in the Sherigu account book that I saw in the Sherigu library this transfer was listed as 300,000.
Fourth, on the Sumbrungu petty cash accounts are listed two expenses of 100,000 for “machine” and I do not know what those expenses are for and was curious.
All of these questions are fairly minor, and we can clear them up when I return in April. Again, in general CESRUD is doing an excellent job in accounting for the funds allocated from FAVL. Thank you so much
A few reflections after my visit of last week.
Before anything, a special thank you to Darius and his sister for helping us to find some “torozom” (the white powder from the pods of the baobab tree). In Sudan I used to drink juice made from this powder all the time (in arabic it is called “gongolaise”) and I was so happy to find some and taste it once again. Delicious!
1) FAVL was very pleased to be able to make a donation of 42 million cedis to the CESRUD account for continuation of work on the Women’s Center in Sumbrungu, with the eventual completion of the (south?) wing that would be suitable for the Sumbrungu community library (which would concentrate on books for children, such as story books and school books, and perhaps should start thinking about how to better serve women, including perhaps eventually hiring and training a woman librarian). We anticipate that we will make another contribution of about 25 million cedis in April. For purposes of our donor “satisfaction” it would be wonderful if when I come in April I could get some pictures showing the progress in the building over the previous month. Who knows, we may then be able to quickly fundraise for another 25 million cedis enabling completion of the work before June!
2) FAVL is in discussion with three university-level volunteers for the Sumbrungu and Sherigu libraries. I think for their trip we should, as we discussed, have a fixed “administrative fee” that CESRUD would receive for their time in Bolgatanga. This would include perhaps: (1) meeting and greeting by CESRUD board member upon their arrival in Bolgatanga, (2) welcome dinner with 2-3 CESRUD board members and librarians, (3) tour of Bolgatanga town, health clinic, and market with a librarian, (4) help in purchasing bicycle in market (that will eventually be left in women’s center for use by future volunteers and library personnel), (5) tours – on bicycle—of Sumbrungu and Sherigu, (6) tour of primary and JSS school, (7) three week “debriefing” lunch with a CESRUD board member and librarians- how is work going? Questions? (8) Assistance as needed for emergency health issues, or other emergency issues (theft, assault).
On the functioning of the libraries… I had a few reflections on the physical state of the libraries. I understand how in Sumbrungu the library will move hopefully in the summer to the Women’s Center. And in Sherigu perhaps the longer term is also to move over the Catholic Center and refurbish the roof there as soon as the Sumbrungu Women’s Center is completed. So there is no need to do much for the building. However, I do think that the furniture (tables and benches) could use some precautionary maintenance (varnish/paint/resurface) to protect it for the longer term. Can a carpenter be hired to do that protection? Also, I noticed on the walls in Sumbrungu that there are pictures by children and Mia and Jenevieve. These pictures are nice, but I think the idea is that they should be “renewed” every few months. Perhaps some petty cash funds can be used to buy drawing paper and colored crayons or paints, and some of the older children can make some decorations. Just four or five children would do a nice job I think… especially if they were encouraged to draw something about reading and the library or school. Also, I think both libraries need to have a better system of registering books so that it will be easier to conduct periodic inventories of the books. Perhaps each book when it is registered into the book registry accession book could be given a number (starting from 1, going to about 1000 now for each library). That way, when it is time to do an inventory, it will only take a few hours. We can talk about this in April. Finally, and this is for Sherigu especially, both libraries should have the library hours posted inside *and* outside the library. Both libraries should had a sign indicating the library (how is it possible that Sherigu still has no sign, even a wooden sign on the building?). Since Claudia is funding the storyteller, there should be regular hours for the storyteller posted on the library. In Burkina Faso, each library has a wooden bulletin board that is hung outside the library when the librarian opens the library, and this has announcements and hours and regulations. These are not very expensive to make and are very convenient.
Some more specific comments… Each library should have their “minutes” book up to date, not just with minutes of official meetings, but also short summaries of informal meetings or events in the library. That way when a visitor comes from FAVL or CESRUD they can take a quick look through the minutes book and see what issues have been under discussion. We discussed also the libraries perhaps training and having some student assistants, in JSS or SS who are very good readers and who would come to the library to help younger students with their lessons or with reading storybooks. We discussed also with Lucas about the possibility of making a large banner that would be used for celebrations etc., saying something like “Sumbrungu Community Library, supported by CESRUDand FAVL” with a picture of a child reading, and possibly a slogan about the importance of reading. Likewise, we discussed the idea of ordering Lacoste shirts with the slogan and picture also. I will leave it to you to think about that and perhaps find out the costs and perhaps we can discuss further via email or when I come in April.
On the accounts… In general Lucas is keeping excellent accounts, and keeping me regularly posted of the CESRUD bank accounts, the CESRUD petty cash accounts, and the Sumbrungu petty cash account. It is excellent work. For Bernard and Sherigu, I find that I do not have a statement of accounts for the last four months of 2006 (Sept-Oct-Nov-Dec). Bernard, could these please be prepared, or copied if you already sent them, and given to me at the end of April when I return? Thank you.
A few specific things on the accounts...
First, every month the coordinator honorarium of 250,000 cedis is being deducted. Since CESRUD board members are perhaps sometimes busy, I wanted to make sure that someone in CESRUD is receiving this regularly. If not, please speak with Lucas!
Second, in the accounts Rex is listed as having received a transfer of 3,030,000 cedis for expenses with Kathy Knowles visit. But in my accounts I have the transfer as 3,644,800. I do not have the receipts here with me, but I wonder if Rex perhaps you have the receipt and we can confirm whether I or you or Lucas has made a mistake in accounting. Not a large amount, but I like the account books to be 100% correct.
Third, on 19/9/06 in the CESRUD petty cash accounts there is listed a transfer of 200,000 to a petty cash account of a library, but it does not say which one- Sherigu or Sumbrungu. Since I do not have the Sherigu accounts for that period it is a question to be resolved. Also, in the CESRUD petty accounts there is listed a transfer to Sherigu petty cash of 200,000 in October 2006 but in the Sherigu account book that I saw in the Sherigu library this transfer was listed as 300,000.
Fourth, on the Sumbrungu petty cash accounts are listed two expenses of 100,000 for “machine” and I do not know what those expenses are for and was curious.
All of these questions are fairly minor, and we can clear them up when I return in April. Again, in general CESRUD is doing an excellent job in accounting for the funds allocated from FAVL. Thank you so much
What should school be like for every child?
Here in Ouagadougou we are fortunate, because of Leslie’s Fulbright grant, to have our children attend the International School of Ouagadougou. It is an amazing school. Most of the teachers are American expatriates, but Sukie’s is Nada Soudan, a Lebanese-Burkinabè (so, English, French, Arabic and some local languages). She organized a little “production” of the story “Caps for Sale”. Sukie was a flower, along with some of the other girls. Don’t let the picture fool you, though. Most of the children at the school are 
expatriate Africans or wealthy (yes, it is expensive) Burkinabè. A really nice mix. Elliot, by the way, has been reading Harry Potter from cover to cover. Burkinabè are pretty impressed that an eight-year old is reading a 600+ page book. We know though that Elliot’s friend Grant was reading the books when he was six!Sunday, March 25, 2007
Photography from Liz Bernard
Last Thursday we attended a small 'Art in Embassies' reception at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Ouagadougou. The ambassador is from Wyoming, so there were lots of beautiful paintings and photographs from the West (including a paid of remarkable Sioux beaded moccasins presented to her grandmother in 1919!). An embassy staffer, Liz Bernard, is also a photographer, and had lots of her photos on display. They can be purchased through her online gallery.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Helping to establish a village library
A friend of libraries writes about advice for a school in a remote village in Panama, picture attached. How might they go about setting up a library? While there are some great resources online (see the short documents linked on the FAVL website) my single most important piece of advice is to think through the question of who will run the library: who will have an interest in running the library? And how will they be monitored? A lot of volunteers think that because they themselves are full of goodwill that so will everyone in a village. And they think that if they have two weeks of time to devote to a poor village, why should the villagers (or teachers), who are often just sitting around anyway, not take the time to run the library, as volunteers? I am not being cynical or sarcastic here… often there is a profound misunderstanding of the nature of village societies… one wants a romantic vision of a community in solidarity… one gets a real community of hard lives, petty jealousies, and serious politics often involving violence. A community library can serve as a point of transcendence, but can just as easily become a locus of contention. So a lot of local knowledge and careful attention, with a commitment to years of support, is needed. There are more cautionary tales than 1001 nights... But go at it with gusto and dedication, please!Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Reading books in Burkina Faso...
Thanks to the suggestion of a friend, I just finished reading The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. A big potboiler book for novel lovers and people, like me, who when young were enthusiasts of understanding the Spanish Civil War- Lorca, Hemingway, Durruti and all that…A bit contrived, but a great book for Burkina Faso, where an agonizing full-body-fatigue of 24 hours means all you can do is sit and read and hope that it isn’t malaria (which it wasn’t).By the way, Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso, has just brokered a peace deal between the two fighting sides of Cote d’Ivoire. They’ve agreed to numerous deals in the past, let’s hope this one sticks.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
David Pace finds that the epic of Sundiata rocks
What a great picture of kids fully entranced by a book...
We'd like more games in the libraries
Elliot's monopoly set, bought at the American Rec Center's annual garage sale in Ouagadouou, will probably end up in a Ghana library. It is in English, so not much use here. We've got nice 'mankala' sets in some of the libraries, carved out of huge logs....
You can read about them in the library, or see in person!
Working with African libraries does have some small perks... we got to take an outing to Nazinga game park in south-eastern Burkina Faso, and see lots and lots of elephants.... Truly amazing.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
How does your $25 donation help?
For example, $25 is how much it costs to build a small book display case. A local carpenter builds these for us. Wood is quite expensive in Burkina Faso. Often the wood used is coming from disassembled packing crates. So we are recycling, helping the local economy, providing jobs, and displaying wonderful books, all for $25. What a bargain!
Library in Tanzania coming soon...
FAVL is very pleased to be working with a group of former Habitat for Humanity volunteers, led by Rosemary Harris, who spent time in the village of Mvumi in Tanzania and who have decided to continue their work there by fundraising and overseeing the establishment of a village library to be called the Chalula Library. We'll keep you posted as we have more news about this exciting development.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Why is programming for the library hard?
What if you had to do a story hour in your library and this is how many children showed up? Suggestions, please....When can we start drawing classes?
A friend SARE Elisee was over the other day. He draws BD- bandes dessinees (comic books). It is a tough living in Ouagadougou. Maybe he'll have some time to help Elliot with drawing dinosaurs, monsters and dragons, and the planetary system being attacked by meteorites. Even better, Elisee would be giving regular drawing lessons down in the libraries. We are going to try to get some funding for that. Library programming is really the hardest thing- there are so many logistical obstacles to overcome.Sunday, February 25, 2007
Flashlights are nice too...
Mark Bent of BoGo Light, a very nice NGO in the U.S. that sells solar powered LED flashlights and then donates one flashlight for every flashlight they sell, sent FAVL 20 flashlights to distribute to librarians, and here is Sanou Dounko with his. I have to say, they really work well! Amazing how long the charge lasts- seemingly for weeks, and the light is perfect for reading. Thanks!
Puzzles are a big hit....
Kathy Knowles, of Osu Children's Library Fund, introduced our Burkina librarians to wooden puzzles when they visited Accra in November 2005. I just spent a few days visiting some of the libraries, and the kids still seem to not get enough of the puzzles! If you have some nice used wooden puzzles- of forest scenes or animals especially- please do go ahead and send them to Bibliotheques Villageoises de Tuy, B.P. 51, Hounde, Province du Tuy, Burkina Faso. Send us an email too when you mail the puzzles so we can look out for them. (Photo: David Pace)Sunday, February 18, 2007
The elephant on his shoulders...
What is the ideal book for a village library in West Africa? Much as I love Beverly Cleary (well, my son does), the myth of Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mande empire in Mali, is the right thing for kids to be reading. And looking at the beautiful drawings by Dialiba Konate. The picture book I found in a dusty bookshop in Ouagadougou, and bought all five copies. The librarians loved it, and the readers will too!
Look for some excellent photos soon...
Photographer and Santa Clara University professor David Pace spend a week in Bereba village in Burkina Faso, taking pictures of cotton harvest, ordinary life and also, of course, kids reading books in the library. In between morning and evening light, there was time for coffee. Thanks to FAVL donor Susan M. who insisted that we bring the expresso maker. Here is David and expresso, picture by yours truly...
Monday, January 22, 2007
Richard Akresh, an economics professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, led a group of 14 University of Illinois students on a winter break study abroad trip to Burkina Faso. He sent us back some feedback: "As part of the course, the group spent 2 days in Bereba living with host families, sharing meals together, and learning about life in rural Burkina Faso. The group was also treated to a guided tour of the village, which included seeing a dry season garden, a soil erosion project, a weighing station for cotton, a traditional compound, and the FAVL library. The group met with FAVL leaders and local students and discussed the importance of reading and having a village library and also how FAVL provided resources for students to do their homework and research projects. The University of Illinois students had an amazing experience in Burkina Faso and one of the highlights was their time in Bereba. They gained an immense amount of knowledge from seeing different development program sites and I don't think they will ever forget their trip to Burkina or the incredibly friendly people they met during their stay. A big thanks to FAVL for all their help in arranging our visit."
Monday, January 08, 2007
Where will we be in Ouagadougou?
For the next six months FAVL President (me) and VP (Leslie Gray) will be based in Ouagadougou. Leslie has a Fulbright grant to continue her research on cotton cultivation. I will be writing more research results from my surveys with Alain Sissao on reading habits and libraries, and in general building up management structures for our local counterparts in Burkina and Ghana. Above is the house we will be renting... jolie, n'est-ce pas?
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Winter fundraising going well
So far we have received more than $26,000 in donations this past month, in response to our annual fundraising campaign. Thanks to everyone! More postings will come from Burkina Faso starting January 16 once we get settled.
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