The Library Project
The Library is an essential part of the Resource Center being built to help the people of Ajara villages. To better understand the importance of the Ajara Library Project, please take a look at some of the facts about library service in Africa:
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Over 70% of the African population do not have access to public library services
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Of the 2,509 libraries built by the Carnegie Foundation worldwide, only 14 were built in Africa
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Only 1,200 Library Service Points (LSPs) are in Africa, compared to North America's 125,000 LSPs
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Literates in Africa often relapse into illiteracy for lack of things to read
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Africa's one billion population has only 11,000 library staff, compared to North America's five hundred million having 363,000 library staff
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Public library has the lowest priority in most African countries
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Library professionals in Africa have abandoned libraries in search of better opportunities
User-Oriented Library:
The goal of the library project is to address the information needs of the people. The overwhelming majority of the people in African villages are illiterates. Therefore, the library project will serve not only the small percentage of formally educated users, but provide various services to children, and semi-literate and non-literate adults.
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The Library As Agent of Change:
This is more than just a reading center for students. In an environment of massive ignorance like Ajara, the library will also:
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Provide vital information on the challenges facing the community, such as water treatment and preventable diseases
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Serve as a civic center and the forum for people to receive information on their political and human rights
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Conduct self-improvement workshops for the community
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Invite experts to share information about economic and educational opportunities
Eight Reasons For You to Support Ajara Library Project:
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Education: African youth have the intelligence, desire, and motivation to learn or educate themselves, but books are not affordable or available to most of them. Yet these youth are the future of the continent. Supporting a library project means supporting education in Africa.
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Empowerment: Books have knowledge, Knowledge is power. Supporting a library is a way of empowering the people.
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Economic Development: It's better to provide the tool for people to self-develop than to give them free meals. Information is a tool and key player in socio-economic development. There is no better place to find information than the library.
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The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste: So many brilliant and gifted people are wasting away in Africa because they have no place to research, draw inspiration, and hone their ideas. Funding and network opportunities are available to such elsewhere, but they have no way of finding out. In this situation a library will make a big difference.
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Productive Time: An idle mind is a devil's workshop. A young man with an ambition and access to good books is less likely to think of committing a crime or raping women.
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Reducing the Number of Drop-Outs: Many African students are frustrated and, often times, drop out of school because they have no place to read at home. They have to place to research their school assignments, and their parents can't afford to buy books for them. Building a library will reduce this kind of frustration.
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Eradication of Ignorance: Many people die from preventable conditions because they are ignorant. Many are also taken advantage of by their leaders because they don't know their rights. A library can give the information needed to change this situation.
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Self-improvement: Through reading, people can acquire knowledge to improve themselves. Where resources are available, those who are not privileged to go to college can study on their own and take professional exams.
How You Can Help Us:
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Picking Up Books -- We need a truck to pick up book donations in all over California. If you are able, please consider us for a truck donation; if you know someone who can help, please tell them about us.
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Shipment -- We need donations of money to help cover shipping costs for books being donated outside California. Please consider us for a donation of any amount. Send a check payable to: RethinkAfrica Library Project (Mailing Address: P.O. Box 75206, Los Angeles, CA 90075);
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Click here for secure, online giving using your credit card or PayPal
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Book Drives -- You can help by organizing a book drive for us. We will help you with your book drive. For more information, please click on the Guidelines for Book Drive.
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