African Library Project in Botswana
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The African Library Project (ALP) has started 381 school libraries in Botswana, a country in southern Africa. Volunteer book drive organizers in the US and Canada collected the books and money to ship them. Learn more about Botswana and the Ministry of Education, ALP's partner there. Learn how you can start a library too!
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African Library Project in Botswana
- 1. In Botswana
- 2. Botswana is the size of France. With 2.2 million people, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
- 3. The country is largely flat and dry. 85% covered by the Kalahari Desert.
- 4. They teach 1st and 2nd graders to read/write in Setswana and do not introduce English until 3rd grade. The government of Botswana provides readers in Setswana. The literacy rate is 84% (one of the highest in Africa).
- 5. ALP’s partner in Botswana is the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. Some of ALP’s best libraries are in Botswana.
- 6. The following innovations originated in our Botswana libraries – snack corners, culture corners and lying on the floor to read.
- 7. For many children, the daily bowl of beans provided by schools for lunch is their only meal. Our books are educating multiple generations as children read to parents and grandparents as part of their homework assignments.
- 9. PTAs support the libraries by monitoring them, serving as librarians, building bookshelves, and more. Will you send a library to Botswana? www.africanlibraryproject.org
Editor's Notes
- The Kalahari Desert is a central feature. Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park in the north are world class wildlife preserves. The majority of population lives in the south and along the border with South Africa. Formerly a British protectorate called Bechuanaland, Botswana has been peaceful since they gained independence from Britain in 1966. Economy depended primarily on livestock until the 1970s when became a major exporter of diamonds. 21% of government spending goes to education, the highest percentage of any country in the world. Along with Ghana, Botswana is one of the most progressive and stable countries in Africa.
- Country is largely flat and dry. 85% covered by the Kalahari Desert. Traditional houses like these are harder and harder to find nowadays as Botswana is quickly losing its traditional culture.
- One of highest literacy rates (84%) in Africa, they’ve made great strides from 69% in 1991. Unlike many other countries, they teach 1st and 2nd graders to read/write in Setswana and do not introduce English until 3rd grade. The government of Botswana provides readers in Setswana.
- Some of our best libraries are in Botswana where they have enthusiastically embraced the idea. Since 2006, we have started 381 primary school libraries in Botswana, initially partnering with the Kanye District of Education, led by the incomparable Olga Tsimanyane. We have covered one district at time.
- History: Kay Raseroka, the Director of University of Botswana was our initial contact in Botswana. She is the Kofi Annan of the library world in that she was the first African to be President of IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations. She recognized that without better primary education, Batswana would not excel in secondary and tertiary education. Partially due to Kay’s influence, the following Innovations originated in our Botswana libraries – snack corners, culture corners and lying on the floor to read.
- Despite amazing progress in Botswana, it has the second highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in the world, estimated at 24% in 2006. Every school has a large percentage of orphans and grannies are raising the children. For many children, the daily bowl of beans provided by schools for lunch is their only meal. Our books are educating multiple generations as children read to illiterate parents and grandparents as part of their homework assignments.
- In 2008, Botswana hosted ALP’s first African Partners Summit with delegates from Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and the USA . It was held in the Kanye Education Center, one of 10 regional teacher training centers in Botswana. Though the construction is modern, this center was without internet connection from December- March and experiences frequent power and water shortages.
- Another unique aspect of the Botswana libraries has been their partnership with PTAs. The PTAs have provided a monitoring function for the libraries. Some parents serve as librarians. Others help build bookshelves and unload the books from the containers. ALP is recruiting book drive organizers to collect 1000 books and about $500 to start a library in Botswana. www.africanlibraryproject.org