Report for Kabubbu Community Library Service

late 2004 –  early 2005 by Victoria Brasier

Organisation:  Kabubbu Community Library Service UNESCO Culture of Peace Project

Key Contact :   Victoria Brasier,   St Andrews Road,   Hanwell,   London,   W7 2NX   Tel Day:  020 87386971 

Aims of Kabubbu Community Library Service:

·        to deliver free educational programmes in order to empower the community with the skills needed to secure a sustainable future, including: literacy, vocational, business, managerial and leadership skills

·        to operate a public service that pro-actively targets the under empowered, including: illiterates, children who have not attended school, those with no vocational skills, under-skilled community leaders, those distanced from their cultural identity and neighbouring rural communities.

Programmes, events and developments delivered by Kabubbu Community Library Service in

May 2004 – Feb 2005:

·        Ongoing Literacy and Numeracy education for youth / adults. The 2004 evaluation of Library Services revealed massive improvements in these skills and an increase in self-esteem of the students.

·        Ongoing vocational skill development through the Employment Skill Development Clubs (Carpentry, Building, Tailoring, Agric., Catering, Music, Mechanics) to the point of being able to attract business.

·        Ongoing an outreach programme involving other rural communities with similar needs to Kabubbu.

·        Sept 2004 Completion, decorating and furnishing of the dedicated Library building by local people

·        Sept 2004 Children (132) were enrolled into the new Library Children’s Programme: providing basic skills education for children who have not been to school and enrichment activities such as music, drama, sport and art to all children. 

·        Nov 2004 A Business and Accounting Skills Workshop for the Employment Skill Development Clubs.

·        Nov 2004  Business development was supported by donations of materials such as wedding clothes.

·        Nov 2004 Performing arts competition inc.  reading, dance, drama, song, poetry

·        Nov 2004  Auctions in aid of the Library Service, using donated clothing

·        Nov 2004 Official opening ceremony of the dedicated Library building, acknowledging supporters of the Library Service to Press and distinguished guests.

·        Nov 2004 ongoing Evaluation and planning of income-generation projects to support financial sustainability of the Library Service

·        Nov 2004  Visit to a farm project using ox traction for farm services inc. ploughing, weeding and transport, 2 oxen purchased

·        Nov 2004 – March 2005 Community sustainable agriculture workshops focussing on getting maximum output with minimum inputs (especially of expensive agrochemicals), given by a Permaculture expert with 26 years experience working in East Africa – very well received by locals

·        Dec 2004 A 3^rd Librarian is appointed to support the Development Clubs, handle improvers Literacy and Numeracy classes and lead the sustainability programme.

·        Feb 2005 Literacy and Numeracy teaching for the Children’s programme is started.

·        Feb 2005 2 members of the Agriculture Development Club receive a month of training in ox traction and associated skills

·        Feb 2005 Invited local business man from CASSO to help advise the Development Clubs on their business development – he provided valuable consultancy and will be invited to provide a surgery for the Clubs questions periodically in Kabubbu.

·        Mar 2005 Review of business development plans prepared by Development Clubs and workshop on profitability.  

·        Mar 2005 Review of Librarians contracts and responsibilities – individual contracts detailing responsibilities produced.   Review of Literacy classes and their future directions – decision to offer entry school exams to adult students so that they get a recognised qualification.  Review of Library procedures and decision to introduce a Library counter to hold bags and check out books.

·        Apr 2005 4 Development Clubs are given their business start up grants having produced quality business plans (3 more Clubs have more work to do)

·        Apr 2005 Management and Leadership Training delivered to the Librarians by UNESCO Uganda

·        April – May 2005 preparation of the ox paddock by Agriculture Development Club (oxen soon to arrive)

·        Nov 2004 – May 2005 preparations made for a placement student from the Mpigi Institute of Social Development to make a contribution to the development of Kabubbu Community Library.

·        Nov 2004 – May 2005 Sourcing of adult facilitation training for the Librarians

·        May 2005 Leadership and Management Training follow up from UNESCO.

Long-term impact of A Ray of Hope support for Kabubbu Community Library Service:

After only 2 years of operation Kabubbu Community Library Service has transformed the people of Kabubbu by assisting them to free themselves from the shackles of poverty by their own efforts.  I relish reflecting on all they have achieved as through their full participation they can take full credit for it.  The success of Kabubbu Community Library Service is the result of a powerful partnership between the Community in Kabubbu and A Ray of Hope.   Support is still needed to assist the Library Service in making a long-term impact on skills for sustainability in Kabubbu.  Full sustainability is targeted for the end of 2008.

Other A Ray of Hope work:

Pigeon’s scenery replacement project has stalled due to lack of funding.  Will reapply in 2005 new financial year.

Successful twinning project between CASSO schools and Chudleigh Community Primary School in Devon involving the production of booklets about each others lives, towns and schools.  Chudleigh also raised funds for musical instruments and a video screen for the CASSO schools.  Trying to empower CASSO staff to manage the relationship with the school themselves although they are struggling to do this – perhaps this responsibility should be devolved to the school staff.   Wonderful feedback sent from CASSO to Chudleigh – it just needs to be sustained.   CASSO posters from Don not yet delivered due to lack of baggage allowance.

Liaising with CASSO workers to share skills in Kabubbu in Business / Career Development / Agricultural Development

Advert sent to schools in Sheffield offering a twinning programme with a school in Uganda.

Successful in helping a Ugandan Vet struggling to run a School in Uganda to get assistance she needed.    Would be good to provide some materials for this school on the next visit to Kabubbu.

Signed up NPI to A Ray of Hope.

Interest from a friend in setting up a project affiliated to A Ray of Hope in Jordan.  Awaiting a plan of action.

Opportunity to provide resources / posters to a school in Ethiopia (to be followed up)