A simple solution to the problem of a shortage of library facilities is to provide one – in a box!
Breadline Africa RSA (BLA), in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, launched a project in 2011 that identified primary schools that were in dire need of library facilities. Since then, this has been achieved through the placing of repurposed shipping containers to supply an almost-instant library facility.
The innovation lies in the simplicity of the intervention, its cost-effectiveness and its scalability. Literacy levels and student retention at basic education is improved, and the long-term benefit is that more children complete high school, opening possibilities of tertiary education, and better employment prospects.
The strategic reasons for using converted shipping containers are threefold: they are cost-effective; they can be moved if there is under-utilisation or abuse; and government planning permission is not required. Existing approaches seek funding for brick and mortar structures, which is significantly more expensive, and can take up to two years to obtain planning permission to build.
The direct beneficiaries of this intervention are the children in the primary schools where BLA places the Mandela Day container libraries – being literate means that they are more likely to stay in school, and this also creates opportunities for tertiary education and ultimately employment. Indirect beneficiaries are teachers, who have the motivating opportunity to teach literate children, who understand the assignments and tests that they receive.
Other indirect beneficiaries include parents, who may be illiterate themselves, having someone in the home who can read and can explain documents to them; and younger siblings, who benefit from having an older sibling to help with reading and homework assignments when they enter the formal education arena.
Often, the librarians designated to run the libraries are volunteers from the community. The BLA Mandela Day Libraries Project provides training to librarians at each school, bringing capacity into the school context as well as the communities. A BLA Mandela Day library thus becomes an inclusive environment that serves many.
BLA also works with other key partners to ensure that the libraries are equipped with sufficient books and material. Partners that have made a significant contribution include South African publishing agencies, partners such as AVUSA, Room to Read, Biblionef, Pan Macmillam and the Bookery. The Rotary Club of South Africa also enhances the project by facilitating teachers from these libraries to collect books from their warehouses when the need arises.
For more information on this project, please visit our website at www.breadlineafrica.org or contact Jade Orgill on projects@breadlineafrica.org.za.