We're welcoming a second PCV to the FAVL Burkina team. Antoinette Yost will be working in Houndé. Some of the projects that she will be working on include: planning and facilitating Burkina's summer reading camps; creating and distributing a resource manual for the librarians with information and activities on topics such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, gender and hygiene; and working closely with Dounko and the librarians to improve the libraries in the Houndé area. We're excited to have her on the team. Here's a short interview with her:
Recently in FAVL Category
I'd like to apologize to all you FAVL fans out there for my lack of blog updates lately. I know you're on the edges of your seats waiting to hear what's going on here in good ole Ouagadougou.
Dounko and I have been pretty busy lately. The FAVL team just finished up a round of evaluations for the LED research, and we've working hard to enter all the data into the computer. The responses are really interesting, and you have to chuckle when a kid tells you that one of his evening tasks is eating and it's difficult. We hope to be done with this by the end of the week!
We've also been making the rounds in Ouaga FINALLY dropping off the letter to ask for financial help for the reading camps. So far, we have a few positive "we're interested and we'll see what we can do"s. We're going to work to make sure they become "we'd love to help out your camps because it's an awesome project"s! We got a very positive response from a representative of the American Embassy in Ouagadougou, so keep your fingers crossed!
I will be leaving for Ghana on Monday to visit our 3 libraries there. I'll be doing a training with another PCV from Burkina and Brianna about how to sustain Brianna's health literacy class after her departure in a couple of weeks. Kerry and I will also be débuing our new health book for primary school students, Mary Loses Her Teeth. It's the riveting tale of a young girl who learns about oral hygiene from her father, and when she doesn't follow his advice, learns firsthand what can happen when you don't take care of your teeth. The French version, Fatou Perde Ses Dents, will be available in Burkina upon our return. Looking forward to a few days in *knock on wood* the cooler temperatures of a country already in the midst of rainy season!
In the meantime, enjoy an image from the LED Evaluations:
Dounko and I have been pretty busy lately. The FAVL team just finished up a round of evaluations for the LED research, and we've working hard to enter all the data into the computer. The responses are really interesting, and you have to chuckle when a kid tells you that one of his evening tasks is eating and it's difficult. We hope to be done with this by the end of the week!
We've also been making the rounds in Ouaga FINALLY dropping off the letter to ask for financial help for the reading camps. So far, we have a few positive "we're interested and we'll see what we can do"s. We're going to work to make sure they become "we'd love to help out your camps because it's an awesome project"s! We got a very positive response from a representative of the American Embassy in Ouagadougou, so keep your fingers crossed!
I will be leaving for Ghana on Monday to visit our 3 libraries there. I'll be doing a training with another PCV from Burkina and Brianna about how to sustain Brianna's health literacy class after her departure in a couple of weeks. Kerry and I will also be débuing our new health book for primary school students, Mary Loses Her Teeth. It's the riveting tale of a young girl who learns about oral hygiene from her father, and when she doesn't follow his advice, learns firsthand what can happen when you don't take care of your teeth. The French version, Fatou Perde Ses Dents, will be available in Burkina upon our return. Looking forward to a few days in *knock on wood* the cooler temperatures of a country already in the midst of rainy season!
In the meantime, enjoy an image from the LED Evaluations:
Le travail sur les camps de lecture avance. Voici les nouvelles:
Le Corps de la Paix a donné permission d'utiliser la salle au bureau pour la formation des volontaires. La date de la formation est le 23 juin. Pendant la semaine, je vais envoyer un mail pour voir le nombre des volontaires qui sont intéressés a participer aux camps.
Regina et moi, on va rencontrer un représentant de l'ambassade d'Amérique pour demander les fonds. L'ambassade donne les petits bourses aux projets au Burkina, et on va discuter si FAVL peut être un récipient des fonds. Le rencontre est à 17h30 demain.
Dounko et moi, on va commencer à déposer les lettres de demandes de soutien demain.
On a passé a DIACFA and Mercury (une autre libraire à Ouaga) et on a choisi deux livres pour les camps. Bouba et Zaza Protègent La Terre (à 1.800 FCFA per copie; 45.000 FCFA en total) et Le Rêve d'Amina par Fatou N'Diaye Sow et Moustapha N'Diaye, l'histoire d'une petite fille qui veut aller à l'école (à 2.900 par copie et 36.250 en total). La dernier, on doit commander les copies et ça va venir dans 3 semaines. On a décidé que 25 copies chacun est bon.
On va voir si on peut joindre un bande-dessiné Kouka comme c'est juste 100 FCFA par copie.
Le Corps de la Paix a donné permission d'utiliser la salle au bureau pour la formation des volontaires. La date de la formation est le 23 juin. Pendant la semaine, je vais envoyer un mail pour voir le nombre des volontaires qui sont intéressés a participer aux camps.
Regina et moi, on va rencontrer un représentant de l'ambassade d'Amérique pour demander les fonds. L'ambassade donne les petits bourses aux projets au Burkina, et on va discuter si FAVL peut être un récipient des fonds. Le rencontre est à 17h30 demain.
Dounko et moi, on va commencer à déposer les lettres de demandes de soutien demain.
On a passé a DIACFA and Mercury (une autre libraire à Ouaga) et on a choisi deux livres pour les camps. Bouba et Zaza Protègent La Terre (à 1.800 FCFA per copie; 45.000 FCFA en total) et Le Rêve d'Amina par Fatou N'Diaye Sow et Moustapha N'Diaye, l'histoire d'une petite fille qui veut aller à l'école (à 2.900 par copie et 36.250 en total). La dernier, on doit commander les copies et ça va venir dans 3 semaines. On a décidé que 25 copies chacun est bon.
On va voir si on peut joindre un bande-dessiné Kouka comme c'est juste 100 FCFA par copie.
On Thursday, April 19, the monthly librarian meeting for the month of March took place in Houndé. (It had been delayed due to LED research evaluations and preparation for the Monique's departure.)
Here was what we talked about:
During the summary of the latrine and hygiene training, Dounko gave a demonstration of how to contruct a handwashing station. The librarians all took turns using the station (Dounko showed them that they should turn off the "faucet" with an elbow so that they didn't recontaminate their hands after washing them.). An old woman who lives in the courtyard saw our demonstration and was interested. So Donkoui showed her how to use the handwashing station, and then she used it herself. It was a nice little demonstration of our skills, and when Donkoui gets a handwashing station for his courtyard, hopefully she will use it too! We encouraged all of the librarians to construct the stations (which are very inexpensive) at their libraries and their homes. We also asked the librarians to come up with a schedule of activities for presenting the information they learned about hygiene at their libraries.
Here was what we talked about:
1. Summary of the latrine and hygiene training in Baskouréc. World Malaria Day (April 25)
2. LED research
3. Discussion and distribution of Echo Library Newsletter and Annual Report 2011
4. Reminder to librarians to recuperate late books
5. Miscellaneous
a. Introduction of Antoinette - a Peace Corps volunteer who will be working with FAVL in Houndé
b. Departure of Monique
During the summary of the latrine and hygiene training, Dounko gave a demonstration of how to contruct a handwashing station. The librarians all took turns using the station (Dounko showed them that they should turn off the "faucet" with an elbow so that they didn't recontaminate their hands after washing them.). An old woman who lives in the courtyard saw our demonstration and was interested. So Donkoui showed her how to use the handwashing station, and then she used it herself. It was a nice little demonstration of our skills, and when Donkoui gets a handwashing station for his courtyard, hopefully she will use it too! We encouraged all of the librarians to construct the stations (which are very inexpensive) at their libraries and their homes. We also asked the librarians to come up with a schedule of activities for presenting the information they learned about hygiene at their libraries.
I came across an interview with the famous author from April 12, 2011 on LATimes.com. Even though Ms. Cleary was definitely not talking about Africa or not even about libraries, there was one part of the interview that really hit home with the mission of FAVL. She said:
We get a question a lot, from Burkinabè especially, about why, when Burkina has so many problems (food security, in particular), do we bother promoting literacy. Monique and I still to this day talk about the presentation we gave at the PC 50th Anniversary Fair, where someone asked why we give books to children instead of sacks of rice. They're right, in a way. One could argue that food security is the most pressing issue that Burkina faces, especially as climate change brings increasingly unpredictable rainy seasons and Malian refugees take shelter here. But that doesn't mean that all development solutions should necessarily fit into a box called "Food Security" and all resources be directed towards those kinds of programs. And it doesn't mean that development should equal food hand-outs. Because if there is anything I have learned in my three years in Burkina, development is a multi-layered beast, and efforts in all sectors are necessary to bring it about. So who knows when a kid if going to wander into a FAVL library one day, picks up a book and love it like Beverly Cleary did so long ago, and go on to become the Burkinabè politician who solves all these problems. Okay, that may be a bit far fetched. But maybe he'll become interested in reading, one day read about a new farming technique, share it in his village, and that village's food security problems will be alleviated. A much more realistic scenario.
I really like what she has to say here. Mostly because we have a lot of kids who have no interest in school or learning whatsoever and come into a FAVL library just to look at books' images, especially those in our photo books. These are kids who probably don't speak/very much French and get discouraged in their large classrooms where they probably have little idea of what's going on. But they can understand simple language that is used in these photo books and are encouraged to look at more books and maybe even expand their literacy skills.
I had a bad time in school in the first grade. Because I had been a rather lonely child on a farm, but I was free and wild and to be shut up in a classroom -- there were 40 children on those days in the classroom, and it was quite a shock. The reader was incredibly stupid -- about Ruth and John and Rover. But my mother always kept library books in the house, and one rainy Sunday afternoon -- this was before television, and we didn't even have a radio -- I picked up a book to look at the pictures and discovered I was reading and enjoying what I read. It was "The Dutch Twins" by Lucy Fitch Perkins, who did a series of books about twins in different countries. Maybe that's why I had twins. (laughs) Something happened in "The Dutch Twins." They fell into the Zuider Zee. They were lively stories, with a simple vocabulary, so then I took off with this and I've been a reader ever since.
We get a question a lot, from Burkinabè especially, about why, when Burkina has so many problems (food security, in particular), do we bother promoting literacy. Monique and I still to this day talk about the presentation we gave at the PC 50th Anniversary Fair, where someone asked why we give books to children instead of sacks of rice. They're right, in a way. One could argue that food security is the most pressing issue that Burkina faces, especially as climate change brings increasingly unpredictable rainy seasons and Malian refugees take shelter here. But that doesn't mean that all development solutions should necessarily fit into a box called "Food Security" and all resources be directed towards those kinds of programs. And it doesn't mean that development should equal food hand-outs. Because if there is anything I have learned in my three years in Burkina, development is a multi-layered beast, and efforts in all sectors are necessary to bring it about. So who knows when a kid if going to wander into a FAVL library one day, picks up a book and love it like Beverly Cleary did so long ago, and go on to become the Burkinabè politician who solves all these problems. Okay, that may be a bit far fetched. But maybe he'll become interested in reading, one day read about a new farming technique, share it in his village, and that village's food security problems will be alleviated. A much more realistic scenario.
This morning I gave a presentation at the International School of Ouagadougou (ISO) to help kick off their literacy month activities. They will be holding a read-a-thon from now until April 27th to raise money for FAVL's 2012 reading camps. During my presentation, I explained what FAVL is, what we do and how the read-a-thon is going to help us. For the read-a-thon itself, an activity mostly organized by ISO's librarian, students will ask for pledges for 15 blocks of time, and will pledge to read a certain amount of 15 minute blocks by the end of the month. The high school kids, who are required to do a certain amount of community service during the year, have extra incentive to participate as each participant will receive 5 hours of community service. The librarian also promised a schoolwide prize if everyone participates. She was very hopeful for a wide participation from the students. An expat volunteer for FAVL, who is also an ISO parent, has been working on outreach to parents to get maximum participation in the event.
Other events during ISO's Literacy Month include a D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) day where kids get to come dressed in pajamas and bring stuffed animals, a Poetry Slam and a Book Swap.
We're hoping for an awesome participation so we can raise some money for the reading camps!
Other events during ISO's Literacy Month include a D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) day where kids get to come dressed in pajamas and bring stuffed animals, a Poetry Slam and a Book Swap.
We're hoping for an awesome participation so we can raise some money for the reading camps!
Brianna writes:
I visited Burkina Faso last week. Although I was traveling from a fairly well developed African country to one of the poorest countries in the world, I was also traveling from a village to a country's capital city. While I was impressed with the water conservation efforts, even during dry season, I was most impressed with the quality of cheese on my pizza.
This trip began, as any visit to a foreign country really should, by emailing a friend who studied the official language for 12 years to inform her that within 24 hours I had mastered French. Monique, who knew my friend Louise well from having worked with her for FAVL's Reading West Africa Program, helped me to write perfect French to complete the ruse.
On Saturday, Monique, Lucas and I visited the Bougounam library. The library was impressively decorated. The walls covered in murals of village scenes and portraits of important people in Burkina painted by the librarian. The small library had two tables, one for adults and another for children. When we arrived at the library around 10 a.m., there were already a few people working at the tables. Throughout our visit, more people showed up. The books were very neatly organized. They were divided into sections for French, English and African literature as well as school and reference books and children's books. After touring the village and over a much appreciated cold drink, we discussed how the library has been running. The librarian's biggest concern was the lack of books by African authors, as the selection is very small despite their high demand. He also commented on children's need for puzzles and games, so they can use the library as a general learning center.
As we began to head back, Monique started talking to a man who was also visiting from Ouagadougou to report on the school opening in the area. We were invited to join the reception, where local and national dignitaries, including the educational director, local chief and patriarch celebrated the importance of making a solid investment in education. Monique was invited to speak about the role of the libraries and reading in improving education in Burkina Faso. My own speeches were thankfully limited to repeated thanks as we were leaving, since my French really consists of stammered greetings and Italian slurred into what I imagine to be a French accent.
Sunday was also a special day. It was Lucas's birthday, which I found out by looking at his passport. I was shocked that he hadn't mentioned it, since I start my birthday countdown a good month in advance. Lucas planned to head home on Sunday to be in the office on Monday, but before he left we insisted on celebrating. When Monique found out it was Lucas's birthday, she quickly took the lead. She and I hurried to pick up supplies. We found a cake shop, and the baker wrote "Joyeux Anniversaire Lucas" on the cake. We returned home with the cake, some Burkina beers, and big smiles - in other words the ingredients to a birthday party. With a candle in the cake, we walked in singing, to Lucas's surprise. He was excited to cut the cake and so impressed to find his name there. We toasted Lucas's birthday, and quickly reached our sugar quota from the cake's icing. All in all, it was a great celebration.
The next few days were a pleasant taste of life in Ouaga. I tried to keep up with some of my work and take advantage of the comparatively fast internet, but I also spent a lot of time just visiting the city. Krystle, FAVL's PCV, took me around to the Artisan Village, where I had to face the reality of being a volunteer instead of an independently wealthy patron of the arts. The artwork and craftsmanship was amazing, especially the bronze and wood sculptures. Later in the evening, I was joined by Melinda and Tim, two researchers from Johns Hopkins who were also staying at the guest house. Together we were able to explore some live music and meat vendors. Our best find was a percussion band of 3 drums and 2 xylophones accompanied by three dancers of dramatically varying abilities.
The trip was a very pleasant visit of a country that is really less than an hour away from where I am living, but still dramatically different in many respects. Besides the obvious difference in language and cuisine of a Francophone culture, there were also more subtle but broadly reflective differences, like the use of metal tables in Burkina instead of wood or plastic, materials that are much scarcer. Monique, Krystle and Salimata were such fantastic hosts, I was sad to say goodbye, but luckily Krystle will be coming to visit us in Sumbrungu and see how the health literacy classes are getting on.
No matter how good a trip or vacation is, there is a sense of relief in coming home. And by home, I most definitely mean the Sumbrungu Women's Center where I have been staying. Upon coming to my town and my home, I was welcomed by my good friends, who I had missed while away. That is really the best ending to a trip anyone can have.
I visited Burkina Faso last week. Although I was traveling from a fairly well developed African country to one of the poorest countries in the world, I was also traveling from a village to a country's capital city. While I was impressed with the water conservation efforts, even during dry season, I was most impressed with the quality of cheese on my pizza.
This trip began, as any visit to a foreign country really should, by emailing a friend who studied the official language for 12 years to inform her that within 24 hours I had mastered French. Monique, who knew my friend Louise well from having worked with her for FAVL's Reading West Africa Program, helped me to write perfect French to complete the ruse.
On Saturday, Monique, Lucas and I visited the Bougounam library. The library was impressively decorated. The walls covered in murals of village scenes and portraits of important people in Burkina painted by the librarian. The small library had two tables, one for adults and another for children. When we arrived at the library around 10 a.m., there were already a few people working at the tables. Throughout our visit, more people showed up. The books were very neatly organized. They were divided into sections for French, English and African literature as well as school and reference books and children's books. After touring the village and over a much appreciated cold drink, we discussed how the library has been running. The librarian's biggest concern was the lack of books by African authors, as the selection is very small despite their high demand. He also commented on children's need for puzzles and games, so they can use the library as a general learning center.
As we began to head back, Monique started talking to a man who was also visiting from Ouagadougou to report on the school opening in the area. We were invited to join the reception, where local and national dignitaries, including the educational director, local chief and patriarch celebrated the importance of making a solid investment in education. Monique was invited to speak about the role of the libraries and reading in improving education in Burkina Faso. My own speeches were thankfully limited to repeated thanks as we were leaving, since my French really consists of stammered greetings and Italian slurred into what I imagine to be a French accent.
Sunday was also a special day. It was Lucas's birthday, which I found out by looking at his passport. I was shocked that he hadn't mentioned it, since I start my birthday countdown a good month in advance. Lucas planned to head home on Sunday to be in the office on Monday, but before he left we insisted on celebrating. When Monique found out it was Lucas's birthday, she quickly took the lead. She and I hurried to pick up supplies. We found a cake shop, and the baker wrote "Joyeux Anniversaire Lucas" on the cake. We returned home with the cake, some Burkina beers, and big smiles - in other words the ingredients to a birthday party. With a candle in the cake, we walked in singing, to Lucas's surprise. He was excited to cut the cake and so impressed to find his name there. We toasted Lucas's birthday, and quickly reached our sugar quota from the cake's icing. All in all, it was a great celebration.
The next few days were a pleasant taste of life in Ouaga. I tried to keep up with some of my work and take advantage of the comparatively fast internet, but I also spent a lot of time just visiting the city. Krystle, FAVL's PCV, took me around to the Artisan Village, where I had to face the reality of being a volunteer instead of an independently wealthy patron of the arts. The artwork and craftsmanship was amazing, especially the bronze and wood sculptures. Later in the evening, I was joined by Melinda and Tim, two researchers from Johns Hopkins who were also staying at the guest house. Together we were able to explore some live music and meat vendors. Our best find was a percussion band of 3 drums and 2 xylophones accompanied by three dancers of dramatically varying abilities.
The trip was a very pleasant visit of a country that is really less than an hour away from where I am living, but still dramatically different in many respects. Besides the obvious difference in language and cuisine of a Francophone culture, there were also more subtle but broadly reflective differences, like the use of metal tables in Burkina instead of wood or plastic, materials that are much scarcer. Monique, Krystle and Salimata were such fantastic hosts, I was sad to say goodbye, but luckily Krystle will be coming to visit us in Sumbrungu and see how the health literacy classes are getting on.
No matter how good a trip or vacation is, there is a sense of relief in coming home. And by home, I most definitely mean the Sumbrungu Women's Center where I have been staying. Upon coming to my town and my home, I was welcomed by my good friends, who I had missed while away. That is really the best ending to a trip anyone can have.
Séance de sensibilisation des femmes de Sara
sur la fabrication du crème anti-moustique
sur la fabrication du crème anti-moustique
Le jeudi 22 mars 2012 à la bibliothèque de Sara a eu lieu une séance de sensibilisation des femmes sur la fabrication du crème anti-moustique à base des feuilles de Nime. 12 femmes ont pris part à cette séance qui s'est déroulée de 15h30 à 17h20 au sein de la dite bibliothèque.
Après avoir souhaité la bienvenue à toutes, la gérante a expliqué ce que c'est le paludisme, le mode de transmission et comment il faut l'éviter.
Ensuite elle leur a montré comment elles peuvent l'éviter à moindre coût en utilisant le crème de Nime à partir des feuilles. Elle a fait un espacé sur la fabrication du crème puis suivi d'une expérience pratique faite ensemble. Elles ont fait bouillir des feuilles de Nime dans une marmite au feu pendant 20 minutes puis extraire les feuilles à l'aide d'un tamis. Après cette partie elles ont réchauffé l'eau recueilli puis ajouté du beurre de karité et du savon qu'elles ont cassé en petits morceaux mettre en remuant jusqu'à obtenir une patte légère qu'elles ont laissé refroidir pendant un bout de temps. Une répartition de ce crème obtenu a été faite et chacune a reçu un petit sachet bien rempli pour essayer à la maison. Il leurs a été dit que l'effet du crème ne dure que 3 heures de temps. Pour cela elles ont été conseillé d'utiliser le crème après avoir se lavé vers 18 heures le temps d'attendre de manger puis se coucher sous une moustiquaire. Les femmes se disent très satisfaites de cette séance qui leurs a permis de comprendre et d'être capables de fabriquer le crème. Désormais elles peuvent partager leurs acquis avec leurs camarades pour diminuer les cas de paludisme dans leurs familles. Elles ont remercié la gérante pour son apport à la population de Sara.
SANOU Dounko
Animateur de FAVL
Alidou writes:
La bibliothèque villageoise de Dohoun a organisé le jeudi 22 mars 2012 une journée d'animation de contes en langue nationale (Bwamu et Mooré). Cette journée d'animation a vu la participation de 150 élèves du primaire venus des deux écoles du dit village.
Débutée à 8h30mn par des chants et des sensibilisations sur l'entretien des livres et la fréquentation de la bibliothèque par le gérant Boué Alidou. Cette première animation du genre a été marqué par la venue des conteurs dynamiques venus du village à savoir Siéni Kekora, Siéni Tuendaba et Doh Ginko.
Huit contes ont été relatés parmi lesquels quatre ont émerveillé le public. Il s'agit de:
- L'histoire d'une belle fille ;
- Le singe et la vieille femme ;
- Le crapaud et la mouche ;
- Le secret du marabout.
Les morales des contes ont été tiré, certains sont très éducatifs pour les enfants (le respect des personnes âgées). Il faut noter que pendant cette séance d'animation certains habitants du village sont venus assister de l'arrière de la clôture de la bibliothèque.
Les animateurs de FAVL n'ont pas aussi été en reste. Dounko et Alidou ont apporté leurs expériences dans le domaine des contes et histoires drôles en français.
L'objectif qui était de satisfaire le public (élèves du primaire) par des contes en Bwamu, Mooré et Français a été atteint. Les élèves ont éprouvé un grand sentiment de joie et quelques uns d'entre eux ont fait des contes à leurs camarades avant la fin de la séance.
Cette journée d'animation de contes s'est terminée par des histoires drôles telles que : Un paysan était en fuite parce qu'il a été surpris d'assister à la mystérieuse scène de conversation avec les plantes de son champ.
La bibliothèque villageoise de Dohoun a organisé le jeudi 22 mars 2012 une journée d'animation de contes en langue nationale (Bwamu et Mooré). Cette journée d'animation a vu la participation de 150 élèves du primaire venus des deux écoles du dit village.
Débutée à 8h30mn par des chants et des sensibilisations sur l'entretien des livres et la fréquentation de la bibliothèque par le gérant Boué Alidou. Cette première animation du genre a été marqué par la venue des conteurs dynamiques venus du village à savoir Siéni Kekora, Siéni Tuendaba et Doh Ginko.
Huit contes ont été relatés parmi lesquels quatre ont émerveillé le public. Il s'agit de:
- L'histoire d'une belle fille ;
- Le singe et la vieille femme ;
- Le crapaud et la mouche ;
- Le secret du marabout.
Les morales des contes ont été tiré, certains sont très éducatifs pour les enfants (le respect des personnes âgées). Il faut noter que pendant cette séance d'animation certains habitants du village sont venus assister de l'arrière de la clôture de la bibliothèque.
Les animateurs de FAVL n'ont pas aussi été en reste. Dounko et Alidou ont apporté leurs expériences dans le domaine des contes et histoires drôles en français.
L'objectif qui était de satisfaire le public (élèves du primaire) par des contes en Bwamu, Mooré et Français a été atteint. Les élèves ont éprouvé un grand sentiment de joie et quelques uns d'entre eux ont fait des contes à leurs camarades avant la fin de la séance.
Cette journée d'animation de contes s'est terminée par des histoires drôles telles que : Un paysan était en fuite parce qu'il a été surpris d'assister à la mystérieuse scène de conversation avec les plantes de son champ.
[Thursday, March 22, 2012, the village library of Dohoun organized a day of stories in local language (Bwamu and Mooré). 150 primary school students from two schools in Dohoun participated in the event.
The event started at 8:30 a.m. with singing and information about how to take care of books well and the importance of coming to the library by the librarian Boué Alidou. The first animation of this kind was marked by the invitation of dynamic storytellers from the villages of Siéni Kekora, Siéni Tuendaba and Doh Ginko. Eight stories were told, four of which amazed the audience. They included :
- The story of a beautiful girl ;
- A monkey and an old woman ;
- The toad and the fly ;
- The secret of the marabou.
The stories' morals were understood by the audience, and certain stories were educational for kids (ex : respect for elders). It's important to note that during the storytime, some residents came to help with the closing of the library.
FAVL's activities coordinators did not rest either. Dounko and Alidou shared their expertise in storytelling with funny stories told in French. The goal to entertain the audience with stories in Bwamu, Mooré and French was met. The students expressed their appreciation for the activity and some of them shared stories with their friends before going home.
The day of stories ended with a funny story : a peasant was on the run because he was surprised to see his plants talking in his field.]
Brockport High School Foreign Language will be hosting a Foreign Film Night to support FAVL! All ticket sale profits will go be sent to FAVL and will be spent on library activities!
The International School of Ouagadougou (ISO) will be holding a read-a-thon as part of their Literacy Month. I will be going next Tuesday to give a short presentation about FAVL to kick off their literacy activities. Each student will be sponsored by individuals for a certain amount for each book read. At the end of the month, students will collect the money, all of which will go to support our 2012 series of reading camps
The International School of Ouagadougou (ISO) will be holding a read-a-thon as part of their Literacy Month. I will be going next Tuesday to give a short presentation about FAVL to kick off their literacy activities. Each student will be sponsored by individuals for a certain amount for each book read. At the end of the month, students will collect the money, all of which will go to support our 2012 series of reading camps
