THE LIBRARY PROJECT

Ever since we arrived in Kenya our family and good friends back home have asked what they can do to help the people here. After much discussion and debate we decided to focus on one project that will have a lasting impact on the community- the small lending library on the clinic compound.

I asked our Director of Education, John Chacha to write a short piece to describe the library’s history and importance to the community. In his own words:

The library was started in 1992 after the Lalmba realized there was a high rate of illiteracy in the area. The fact was that many people did not know how to read or write. This was because they did not have the chance to go to school. Even of those who went to school, the majority could not read or write properly because they dropped out before completion of final level of primary education,
class 8.

Lalmba decided to start and operate a free lending library in this compound to uplift the educational standard in this community in order to fight illiteracy. Our library is the only one of its kind in an area of over 150 square km. Over the years, some well wishers from the United States donated some books to our library but unfortunately they were not appropriate for our readers. The mother tongue is Dholuo but students are also taught Kiswahili and English in school. Because the books are outdated and more relevant to someone living in America, our readers did not find them very helpful.

Our plan now is to try to purchase books in Kenya that will meet the needs of our students and our community. Thank you for your help and interest and God bless you.

This is Darcie speaking again…the library here is in a small space and it’s nearly always busy. Locals come in to read the newspaper or borrow a book and school kids come in after class to study or look up information in the 25 year old encyclopedias. In April we met a young man while we were out walking who was in his first year of college. This is a remarkable accomplishment for a child from this community. When he heard we were from Lalmba he thanked us warmly and sincerely for the library and told us it meant the difference between passing admission tests for college and ending up a fisherman in Matoso. It was then that the idea began to germinate.

After being asked every day for a “kulum” or pencil by the local children, my Aunt Marge in CA and sibs in CO and NH sent us many, many pencils to give out. The students and kids love to receive them and we’ve become known at the Kulum Mzungus. Now they’ve started to ask us for books and we’d like to oblige.

Our goal is to raise $1500 which will be transferred to the Matoso account for the Kenyan education staff to purchase books here in Kenya. So, if you’ve wanted to do something to help but didn’t know what to do and want to help us in this project to change lives, here’s what to do:

You can send a tax deductible contribution directly to Lalmba USA at the following address:
Lalmba
7685 Quartz Street
Arvada, CO 80007

Please! Write “Kenya library project” on your check. They will transfer the funds directly to the Kenya project so the staff here can purchase new books. I will report back to you on how much money was raised and how it was spent. You’ve seen pictures “before” the transformation and I’ll also take photos “after” the books and reference materials are purchased. If you have any questions about the project please feel free to email us at birdnsong@gmail.com.

Your gift will help improve the futures of Kenyan kids for many years to come.

Thank you with love and appreciation from Darcie and Paul Meierbachtol, Matoso, Kenya