Help Support New Libraries in Swaziland

“The library is a good place to spend time in. I say this because of the books that are intresting (sic). For the library to be opened is good for all of us. In reading the books it gives your mind some new words and other vocabulary sentences. There are books that you will read them for fun and some for knowledge. Do not be indifferent in reading books. Good luck, happy reading.” Form 1 student (equivalent of US grade 8)

The new library at our local high school has been a phenomenal success. The photos in this posting show Mcebo helping to register the new books

and students enjoying the new library.

Hundreds of books have been checked out since the library opened in June. One Form 1 student often checks out a new book each day. The teachers tell us they have seen a definite improvement in their students' exams and writing skills. Recently, a Form 3 girl was jumping up and down at the excitement of finding a book she wanted to read. We have several book clubs going affording us an opportunity to work directly with small groups of students. The High School received some books that were too young for those students, so we brought 3 boxes to the local primary school that lacks a library; whenever we bring a “box library” into classes at the primary school, the students eagerly swarm, delighted at the chance to read a book. At recess the students beg us to read to them.

This year Katherine (with Mark's help) is part of the Peace Corps' Books for Africa Swaziland Committee helping volunteers start 30 new libraries around the country. (We will not apply for a new library in our community this year.) The books are donated, but volunteers must raise half the shipping costs, this year $7617.

We are requesting readers of this blog to donate to Books For Africa to support our efforts and bring the joy of reading to the young people in Swaziland. We are convinced that improved English will help these students move from dependent poverty to becoming self-supporting citizens. The link to donate is:  https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=15-645-001

Please make sure you include your name with the donation. The default for this site seems to be “anonymous”, and we were not able properly to thank many of you who donated last year.

We are well into our second and last year as Peace Corps volunteers. There have been many highs and some lows. Our work with libraries is one of our proudest efforts. Please help us continue this work.

We wish a happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family who are following our blog.

Katherine and Mark

A Halloween Trick

     Technology is the toughest obstacle we've faced in the PC, starting from our first application and then endless medical review, and especially after we arrived: maintaining phone and internet access and keeping our computer operable. 2 weeks ago the 5^th Horseman of the PC Apocalypse descended upon us when our computer froze into a loop we couldn't break. Many invocations of task manager and hard booting were to no avail, as were attempted interventions by the PC tech manager. We've now spent 3 full days and many worried hours visiting the best computer servicing location in SZ, who managed to fix the problem after several days of tests, and then literally days of downloading programs that did not survive the assault. We've now mostly returned to functionality – we think. I'm still getting used to the photo processing program I'm using now, and I'm not sure I'm compressing the pix as I should – you can let me know. The struggle continues. And we have no understanding of the cause of this early Halloween trick!

     We caught a Halloween celebration back on Saturday, Oct. 25, because that was when the new group could join us. Some of our group went all out on decorations. Boy can some of those new folks party – most of them till 3:30 or 4, a few all night; I know, cause I saw them still at it when I got up to pee, then went back to bed.

Then Katherine made a presentation the next Friday, Oct 31, to the new group about Books For Africa and had housing (and a hot shower!) at the training facility, so I joined some of our gang at a hostel to celebrate the real Halloween. I was glad to be at each, and I enjoy getting together with the gang, but it's not the same as when it was new and exciting a year ago. We're going to be ready to leave in 10 months.

     The school year is winding down. Grade 7s (in the primary schools) and Forms III and V (high school; roughly sophomores and seniors) have already started national exams, and all other grades and Forms start school tests next week, so this is the last week of classes. The students will still come to school, but there not be classes, so we won't have an opportunity to teach. So over the next month we will try to get some activities going on which we have been trained, that dramatize for them how infectious HIV can be and give practice on making good decisions. We'll see. It's called Grassroot Soccer, and is quite clever, using sports as a hook for the kids' interest; it gets at the behavior change which is the key to what we are trying to do. We will call it Grassroot Netball, because girls are our primary target; they are more vulnerable to HIV, and seem more willing to try to change.

In addition to our class teaching – 4 5^th grade and 3 6^th grade classes - we've been busy tutoring some Grade 7s and Form IIIs on their literature and English comprehension exams, and that has been a kick – some smart motivated kids, reading some very provocative literature on growing up, race, families, and sexual abuse. But that too is over now. The Form Vs will finish their exams this week and next – the girls are letting their hair grow so they can have extensions attached (prohibited at rural schools). And some of our favorites, who first introduced us to the school, will be gone.

      And here, by popular demand, is a picture of Matthew Hunter Coyle in his Halloween Pumpkin costume – he is sometimes known in this hemisphere as Litsanga Lomncane Kumnandze – the Sweet Little Pumpkin.

Martha records his gurgles and chuckles on WhatsApp and sends them to us. All who have heard them – fellow teachers, students, strangers on khumbis - have been charmed. Smart fella, that one, and very melodious!