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 3rd 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)
