Hello donors and friends of African Village Libraries and reading programs.  We are planning on a next workshop in our Houndé Multimedia Center in early January, while students are on break.

Meanwhile, here is an update on FAVL activities in the first quarter of 2017.

In Burkina Faso:

• FAVL continues with activities to support 34 libraries in the country (20 libraries in the provinces of Bam and Sanmatenga were opened in the beginning of 2016).  
• Thirteen new books photo books are about to be printed and shipped to Burkina Faso.  One, called "Our Village Hosts a Summer Reading Camp"(in French) is available for purchase now.
• Summer reading camps are being planned for 25 of the libraries in Burkina Faso.
• We are hoping to hire a dynamic and creative manager for the Houndé Multimedia Center in coming weeks, to run more outreach and conmputer training activities for young women in the region.

In Ghana:

• After-school reading programs continue to be held in all three libraries.  These are locally funded programs.
• Local director Paul Ayutoliya travelled to Accra to purchase books for the three libraries and visit Jordan Nu community library.
• A new motorcycle was purchased for Paul to enable him to circulate to the three libraries.
• Lots of readers come regularly to the libraries.  One librarian hosted an essay writing contest, "Why Come to the Library."  Read about it here.

In the United States:

• FAVL continues to receive great service from two Santa Clara University student interns in 2017.  Maria again leveraged her French skills to produce two more posters about reading (Moroccan authors) that are now on the walls of many of the libraries. Beth has been keeping our Quickbooks accounting system up to date for Ghana. They have both also done a lot of blog post formatting, editing, book production, and all the office tasks that keep us humming. We are really grateful for these contributions

Links:

• FAVL website and blog

Thanks to all the new and continuing donors for purchasing quality children's books for the libraries in Burkina Faso.  Earlier today (May 12) our national representative, Sanou Dounko, was able to purchase 45 children's books at a cost of 100.000 FCFA (about $200) for the community library of Niankorodougou.  These books are very typical of the works of Fatou keita which are much appreciated by young village readers.  Niankorodougou library sees about 20 visits a day to the library and checks out 100+ books each month.  The librarian salary is now covered by the office of the mayor.  The books will be delivered in coming days to Niankorodougou.  Thanks for your help!!!

• receipt page 1 (PDF)
  
• receipt page 2 (PDF)
  

Hello donors and friends of African Village Libraries and reading programs.  We are planning on a next workshop in our Houndé Multimedia Center in early January, while students are on break.

Meanwhile, here is an update on FAVL activities in 2016 from our annual newsletter.

In Burkina Faso:

• 20 new libraries in the provinces of Bam and Sanmatenga were opened in the beginning of 2016 as part of a large $450,000 grant from USDA/Catholic Relief Services Beoog Biiga II project.   A 21st library opened in the town of Sebba near the border with Niger. The marginalized populations of the Sahel, where life is made increasingly precarious by insecurity and climate change, are very much in need of more investments in education.
• A first annual conference was held in Ouagadougou, with 29 librarians from around the country attending.
• Four new books were developed, printed and distributed, thanks especially to the efforts of a volunteer university student from U.C. Berkeley.
• Summer reading camps were held in 22 libraries. These are amazing opportunities for 4th graders to improve their reading skills and start using their village library.
• The staff is working with two libraries (Boni and Ouargaye) that were closed during the political upheavals of 2014 and 2015, and they should reopen soon.

In Ghana:

• After-school reading programs were organized in all three libraries.
• 300 books, primarily African novels, Ghanaian children’s books, and some school books, were purchased in Accra, to replenish some of the now very old book collections.
• Coordinator Paul Ayutoliya continues to meet with officials to secure more local support for the libraries.

In Uganda:

• The Uganda Community Libraries Association (UgCLA) held its sixth annual conference in January 2016. The conference was hosted by one of the Association's member libraries, that of Uganda Development Services (UDS) in the eastern town of Kamuli. More than 40 people attended, including representatives of 21 libraries.
• Kitengesa Library has hosted visits from classes in local schools. Hundreds of students had the chance to spend class time reading books.

In the United States:

• FAVL has received great service from two Santa Clara University student interns in 2016. Maria leveraged her French skills to produce four posters about reading that are now on the walls of many of the libraries. Bethany has been keeping our Quickbooks accounting system up to date. They have both also done a lot of blog post formatting, editing, book production, and all the office tasks that keep us humming. We are really grateful for these contributions

Links:

• FAVL website and blog