avad

My next 10% went to this project from the Peace Corps Volunteer Projects Page.

SOUTH AFRICA, Library
Volunteer Coordinator(s):C. Burkholder of CA
Funds Needed:$1,309.00
Original Request:$1,309.00
Project Number:674-026
Community Contribution:$464.00 (26%)

"Recently Matshwi Primary School has received four new classroom blocks from the Department of Education. They have decided that they want to use one of their new classrooms to create a library. The school, though highly populous, is without basic learning tools, such as books, in which to encourage higher learning. The teachers are excited about their students having access to literature and have been impressed with how much their students enjoy being read to.

Currently the school has been in the process of collecting books from both South African and American organizations. To date, it has obtained over 600 books with more expected to arrive shortly. In addition, it has created a library committee which is responsible for these books and for creating library times for individual classes. Some of the older students have begun borrowing books on a regular basis. For the school it would be beneficial to allow all students easy access to the books which is currently not possible due to the fact that the books are contained in boxes and not organized in any meaningful way.

Matshwi Primary School has been in the process of performing various school fundraising activities in order to build shelves and tables for the library, buy rugs and buy a desk for the librarian as well as chairs for the students. So far, they have successfully raised 620 rand but it has been as very slow process to raise funds in such a poor area while the books sit, for the most part, unused in boxes. Thus they are requesting funds to get the library up and running so students can benefit immediately from the literature and teachers can be trained thoroughly in the use and upkeep of a library before the end of Peace Corps Volunteers service.

Matshwi Primary School now request Partners assistance in the construction of shelves and tables as well as the purchasing of materials to complete the library. "

Contribute to this project?!

(These project summaries are written by Peace Corps volunteers and their host communities.)

I received this unexpected package in the mail. It's from a Peace Corps Project I contributed to in Honduras- you might remember:
Women's Bread and Sewing Microbusiness







I held that pillowcase in the car...fingering the embroidery...smells of dirt...and little stains..trying to connect..see where it came from...those hands...imagining..
I feel both happy and sad..my heart...hard to explain...all those miles between us...a real person..worlds away yet so close...and I hope so much she is doing well.

I decided on this Peace Corps Partnership Project for my most recent 10% donation (from paycheck):

Womens Bread and Sewing Microbusiness

Location
HONDURAS
Volunteer Coordinator(s)
E Estey of IL

The womens group in Santa Anita was founded in 2004 as a way to provide economic opportunities for women in the community. The women’s group decided to develop a micro business producing both tailor-made clothing and bread. The group has been working with the Peace Corps Volunteer to develop a project plan to solicit financial support and to organize trainings on business management and marketing techniques. The group has been success in obtaining local support from two non-governmental organizations. These donations have assisted them in purchasing ovens, baking materials and building a business center. They are requesting Partnership assistance to purchase the sewing machines and initial sewing materials to initiate the project.

Contribute to this project!