Learning in Longido

Learning and Fun in the Library

Project TEMBO’s primary focus has been on the education of girls and empowerment of women. However, the children of Longido, especially the girls, must overcome many challenges if they are to be successful in school. We have been told by community members that informal education opportunities are very important. They want young children to find learning- especially early exposure to books, educational games and English – to be an enjoyable experience. They want older children to have the resources and a supportive environment in which to study. And they want the women of Longido to have opportunities for informal education which will help them and their families.

To address these issues, we are developing the “Learning in Longido” program to provide some of these important facilities and programs. We are doing this in consultation with the community and with other interested NGOs.

Our small existing library has served as a resource centre for some of these activities. Because it has been busy and rather crowded, we have recently rented an additional room so that older children will have a place to study without the distraction of the younger children. We are now working to support the community in developing the Longido District Learning Centre. It will accommodate our library and other Learning in Longido programs and will also provide a venue for other community groups to carry out similar important initiatives.

This Centre will belong to the community, but we will help to build it and to support its early programming.

Progress

We now have sufficient funds available to have made a proposal to the District for an allocation of land for the Centre. We have received an offer of land and will be discussing this with local officials in the near future. When that is done, we will be ready for the next steps in community consultation, final building design and construction.

In the meantime we will continue with planning and fundraising here in Canada. We are very grateful to those who have already contributed to this effort to improve opportunities for learning in Longido!