KidsLibs Trust Kenya

IN UK...

2011-06-04T21:52:00.000+03:00

Well, had to bite the bullet and return to UK to find a job and earn some money to save to get back to Kenya when I can. Patrick is there still to complete the Coke project and the Safaricom library in Sipili, plus complete current Little Hands projects. So much we can still do- but cant do it if I cant live!

Keep the faith! I will get back somehow and continue to make libraries for needy communities in Kenya!

KLT-en Francais! And Super Angels girls groups...

2011-05-01T14:21:00.002+03:00

A new article about our work- all be it but a bit out of date now!- can be found in Amina magazine, February issue this year! It was written by Joanne Maina, a journalist who lives in Kawangware, and who writes for Amina magazine as Anjou Maina.

I went to visit Mathare North MYSA library yesterday to talk to their Super Angels girls group. They were desperate to talk about their issues: particularly about periods, love, crushes, sex- and boys. They still have very little information about all these topics which are not spoken about at school. The girls talk amongst themselves, often passing on incorrect information- particularly about methods of contraception. The girls were very open with their questions!

Sipili Super Angels

I wish we could get a donor to help the Super Angel girls groups in all of our libraries, so we can organise speakers to talk to them about such issues. I have many lady Kenyans waiting to talk to the girls, but it involves paying transport, lunch etc- particularly to our rural libraries. They also need sanitary towels donated, which enable the girls to remain in school every day each and every month.

We also want the girls to get to know each other in each of the KLT libraries (unfortunately Mathare North is no longer a KLT library) by visiting each other; to understand the issues of girls all across Kenya: to promote sisterhood.

If you think you can help, do let me know!

We launched Little Hands Big Steps round three at Kawangware yesterday too! I was delighted to see a 16 year old brother bringing his youngest sibling to join in! We were also able to donated 50 books for under three year olds to library stock. LHBS children are allowed to borrow books from the library. Now thirty children will have completed LHBS (after this group finishes) Kawangware needs more books for this age group, as the current books are so heavily used they are on their last legs!

Joan, a volunteer will be helping with this project, and hopes to start a story writing group with slightly older children too. She plans to involve her sons in this activity!

Talk soon!

The Wheels on the Bus reached Sipili!!!

2011-04-15T14:40:00.000+03:00

Little Hands Big Steps reached Sipili on Wednesday! I only got to talk to two parents, but we had many older kids watching and learning how to use books for fun with our youngest community members- Joseph showed the other parents who arrived a wee bit later. I'm afraid the photos show me performing 'The Wheels on the Bus'!

youngsters watching and learning..

Move on to Kawangware in a few weeks- Maurice needed a bit more time to round up parents/ carers. aunties and uncles! It will be our third session of LHBS with Kawangware community members!

Picture showing our LHBS collection waiting to be used!!

Yes, the Wheels on the Bus really do go round- and we are getting places!

The Return of Little Hands to Gacharage'ini!

2011-04-10T12:15:00.000+03:00

Little ones arriving at the library

A new group of ten little ones started LHBS yesterday in Gacharage'ini KidsLibs Community Library! We even have a baby with her Daddy taking part! I managed to talk to four of the ten grown ups, and watched their faces as their smallest family members were introduced to tactile, board, and noisy books! These are the first to be used from the consignment chosen for us by Peters Booksellers in UK (funded of course by Holy Trinity and St Peters Legacy Trust in UK)

Some Mums with their little ones

LHBS will start in Sipili later this week (after some delays!) and round three at Kawangware next Saturday!

HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO...!

Photos of Sipili library- with a class of kids!

2011-03-17T15:48:00.002+02:00

Oh I LOVE this work!!! All the crap that goes on, and the worry over funding, yet

THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!!!

YEAY for libraries!!!!

New Sipili Library- in pictures!

2011-03-02T09:20:00.001+02:00

Well I am now back in Kenya, though without any funding, so am somewhat limited due to lack of finances as to what I can do!

children's area

At last we got to Sipili with a camera! It took Joseph sometime to assemble the shelving and re -organise the books- he also had a serious motorbike accident at beginning of January which didn't help! ANYWAY he is now better, and the library re opened beginning of February.

adults area

Patrick and I visited last week and took these pics! Really pleased- just need people in it!! We discovered through chatting in the town that people- in particular a local nursery school- didn't know the library existed! SOOO.. some serious promoting needs to be done!

Also we will hand over the library to the library committee in the next week or two. Their contract is ready!

The new library has a ceiling, plastered walls and loads of extra light, plus a fire exit.

reference area

Safaricom Foundation paid for the construction of the building, but the shelving was paid for my the Australian High Commission, being the original furniture given to the old Sipili library based at Lariak Primary school.
We have had many problems with some senior members of the Sipili
community, wanting to use the library for their own purposes, but hope that these are now resolved. Our library chairman is a wonderful man who has helped us so many ways.

Unfortunately our guttering keeps being stolen so our rain harvesting has had to stop. The tank will be used for the Super Angels group project- below.

THANK YOU to everyone involved with this project!

We also have been able to restart construction of the Coco Cola Africa Foundation project for the Super Angel girls group in Sipili. This was not possible to run while I was away. We hope to get construction completed in the next month, and to start training up the girls in necessary skills shortly after that.

This project is being supervised by the library chairman and Joseph who runs the library, with professional advice from other community members. much work has been done, but none is photograph-able, being the laying of underground water pipes!

Also waiting for the arrival from UK of the new Little Hands Big Steps books! When these arrive I can make up the new bags and sessions can start in the three KLT libraries! Yeay!

We have a proposal in to Comic Relief in partnership with Village Aid in UK. Please keep all fingers and toes crossed, as this can potentially give us funding for two years, and make a further two libraries, plus develop existing KLT libraries and develop KLT projects in all our libraries.

Thanks for all support everyone!

Talk soon!

Happy Christmas!!!!

2010-12-22T19:46:00.000+02:00

A merry and joy-filled Christmas to all! Go visit your neighbours n check that anyone elderly near you is OK!

Christmas is a time of giving... of yourself too!! The more you give, the more you get!

Here's to a good 2011, filled with unity and serving each other!

Love Anne and Patrick @KLT

Prizes at Kawangware!

2010-11-28T10:55:00.000+02:00

On Thursday we finally managed (thanks to the donation of fuel money from a friend in USA!) to present prizes to some of the winners of the Children's Rights Story competition run by UNICEF Glasgow branch! Two highly commended and 1st and second prize winners arrived with their parents to receive their prizes! Third prize recipient and more Highly commended prizes will be handed out at Sipili Library as soon as we can! Many thanks to UNICEF Glasgow for letting us enter this competition.

Our overall winner Cedric

Three of our winners are from the same school!

Gacharage'ini open... IT'S OFFICIAL!!

2010-10-30T08:39:00.002+03:00

We opened yesterday- OFFICIALLY! - amidst many speeches from community members, and some great dancing by the local primary school. There was also a special poem written about the library- which we hope to put on the website soon!

Certificates were handed to the library trainees, and thanks given and received! We were particularly pleased that Aggreko sent a representative to the opening! Dale and his family enjoyed the performances, and I think were impressed with the library. It was great for KLT to be able to thank Zack at Aberdare Cottages for their support of us, as they have accommodated us (lodging and food) for the six months it has taken us from start to finish.

Also to thank Patrick, and acknowledge his part in supervising all construction of the building- including sourcing materials and getting them- and keeping everyone motivated, even tho he has a full time job 3-4 hours aways from where the library is located.

Of course BookAid International were thanked for their generous support, and we are looking forward to receiving their donation of 3000 books to add to Gacharage'ini stock.

We can now look towards making our next libraries! We have building quotations available now for both Kinamba and Sosian.
Proposals to write and things to do!!!

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your support!!

Here's to the next few libraries!!!

Little Hands filled- and hearts filled!- at Kawangware today!

2010-10-09T18:45:00.000+03:00

Today Little Hands Big Steps at Kawangware KLT library saw another 9 under three year olds graduate! I am particularly proud cos here we had two dads paticipating.. both of whom cannot believe how the experience went! I sat and watched one of the dads sit with his 18 month old daughter for 30 minutes sharing books in the library, amidst lots of giggling and other noises! WONDERFUL!!

Just look at these photos!

Faline and Mum Bella!

Another Dad with his son!

Faline again with her favourite book!

Anne giving out the T shirts and book to keep!

Next Little Hands Big Steps group in Kawangware will start in January 2011¬ Am SOOO proud of them all!!

ONE more open, making TWO completed in the last few weeks ..THREE on the way!!

2010-10-04T16:55:00.001+03:00

Gacharageini Library in Aberdare hills.. has now been open for 10 days! In that time we have 328 members, and an attendance figure of 692!

We also launched Little Hands, Big Steps on Saturday. Ten families with under three year olds came and took their LHBS bags, after being told how to use them, and how to share books with their children. I think this will be a real challenge in this area, as children- and indeed some grown ups- don't know how to use books for anything other than for school.

LHBS families!

LHBS participant!

Sipili KLT Library in Laikipia West.

We finally moved into our new building on Saturday! After threats of possible riots and book burning we moved into the new building. Joseph had been packing books for a week, and luckily the kids from the next door Lariak School for the Deaf helped Patrick and Joseph move the books, shelves, carpet etc. We did have to hire a truck for the purpose, although our NEWLY painted pick up also played its part!

Joseph has to re construct the library in its new building, so it may make some days before he is able to re open. Look how bright and airy the new building is! Still, a daunting task! MANY thanks to Patrick, Joseph and the team of willing community members - including Mr Kiprop our library chairman in Sipili- who assisted in this dusty and Hot task!

That's it till the weekend when we give out certificates and T shirts to our next lot of Little Hands Graduates at Kawangware KLT Community library!

Talk then!

Possible next library location...

2010-09-18T17:49:00.000+03:00

Sosian is a village located in Laikipia province. It is a small place, with a hard working population, who mainly work for the nearest large farm. There are a mixed group of tribes here, but all think of themselves as Sosian people: tribe is irrelevent. There are 13 villages within walking distance (up to 3 hours walk), and six primary schools, plus one secondary school within the 1,345 square KM, and a population of 13,571.

The community is very keen to progress and develop their skills. The nearest library is 17 km walk away. The community is willing to donate a 1/2 acre plot for their library. This plot is located within the grounds of the school, but well away from the school buildings, so the library wil not disturb the school- or the school disturb the library!

After talking to the local employing farmer we will start looking for funding- and books!! Our library here will not be too big, and will be stone built, with high walls and many windows to allows for ventilation in this hot climate. We will also include solar power here- we are assured that it will not be stolen!!

Donated piece of land

Talk soon!

Not bad... past, present... AND future!

2010-08-30T15:14:00.002+03:00

Well, Library number seven is nearly complete (STILL waiting for furniture...!). I thought I would post piccies of all seven libraries KLT has made!! SOOO here goes!

Eastleigh MYSA library opened November 2002

Next came Mathare North MYSA Library in February 2004, funded by Sara Lee, Kenya

Next was UKenya library at Bethlehem Community Centre in Soweto area of Kayole, Nairobi.July 2004, made with the British High Commission.

Next came Kawangware in 2006, originally with Work for Food community group, but taken over by Dagoretti Empowerment centre in 2007. This library was sponsored by Safaricom Foundation.

Then... Sipili KLT Library in Laikipia West, our first rural library in 2007. This was originally sponsored by the Australian High Commission in Kenya. The new library is sponsored by Safaricom Foundation, and should open any time now!

Existing library

New building due to open any time now!

Next came Maili Saba MYSA Library, opened September 2009 (completed by MYSA)

Finally Gacharageini library, our second rural library, made with the library committee of Muthangari Catholic church (although open to all community members!). Sponsored by BookAid International and Aggreko.

What Next??

Well, we are planning libraries 8 and 9 now, and visiting sites. Kinamba in Laikipia West,

and a possible one in Sosian in Samburu District. We have visited the proposed site already donated by the community in Kinamba, and hope to build the wonderful library designed for us by Symbion Architects some years ago. We have yet to visit proposed site in Sosian, but hope to get there in the next week of two.. then we start hunting for donors again!!

Talk again soon!

The Not Opening Yet of Gacharageini Library

2010-08-15T09:10:00.001+03:00

Well, on August 14th we didnt open Gacharageini (I reckon another two weeks until all furniture finally arrives!) but we did celebrate a really great new library! Joseph from Sipili library came and trained Faith and Mercy (two officially appointed staff!) in daily record keeping. Chris from Sara Lee came- and I think liked what he saw, plus the library committee- and our special guests MYSA Mathare North Library drama group, PLUS our guest of honour Clive Nettleton from BookAid International.

Here are some kids using the new children's area!

Here is a great photo of some of our older residents enjoying the adults section of the new library!

Mercy and Faith - our two official staff!- enrolled many people into the library.

Photo on the left shows study area.. great light here!

Kids from Mathare North MYSA library dancing for us!

Someone found a quiet spot to read.. despite all the noise and fuss of visitors!

Clive from BookAid International giving his speech to the crowd!

Adults library before people arrived!

Childrens area again, showing Young Adults section

People were amazed by the library- most commenting that they had never seen a library like it, and were amazed it was for them. We discovered some challenges:we had organised for a shoe rack for people to place their shoes before they come inside.. we forgot about the kids (particularly) who dont have shoes, and whose feet are covered in mud.. I think a supply for water to wash feet before coming is is called for or our beautiful carpet will get spoiled.

Have to stick carpet down yet, and wait for catalogue drawers, shelf dividers, magazine rack, shoe and bag rack, computer table and staff desk!

We discovered a young man who is studying agriculture.. he was VERY interested in the forthcoming Biovision software which will be loaded onto our computers, and also information coming from ILRI.

Will take more pics when ALL of the furniture is in and when we actually DO open!!!

Let me know what you think!!!

Anne

The Last dash!

2010-08-11T07:24:00.000+03:00

Chairs arrive today, electrician finishes up today, carpet goes down today, we move tables, shelves and books in tomorrow... et voila! A library!! No bag or shoe racks. staff desk, computer table, magazine shelves, catalogue drawers or shelf dividers tho.. they still being made. Phew!

All things considered we did well, even tho we cant open this weekend as we had hoped due to waiting for last pieces of furniture. Maybe next week....

Should be a good day on Saturday anyway, as local community want to thank our donor BookAid International. Dancing and singing anyway!!! Also our new KLT sign will go up outside the door :

For some reason the photo is refusing to go the right way up!!! Sorry!!

Talk after Saturday!

Paint and flowers!

2010-08-03T16:56:00.000+03:00

Hi again! No little tots in these pics, just Gacharageini Library update! Landscaping has begun, and painting is just waiting for its last coat- should happen on friday! ALSO funding from Aggreko and Bookaid International has arrived so we can complete the wiring and get the carpet!

Voting for new constitution in Kenya tomorrow, and day after is a public holiday, so no work.

All shelving completed. Tables and chairs should arrive on friday. Just catalogue drawers, shoe and bags racks and staff desk... plus shelf dividers left!! We are getting there!!

More Little Hands making Big Steps!!

2010-08-01T09:01:00.001+03:00

Kawangware library in Nairobi saw its second group of families with under 3 year olds embark on the Little Hands Big Steps journey! The Mums/ aunties were so excited to start- indeed they were all sitting there sharing books before we arrived-, and their children were hooked by the look on their faces!

This time we have explained a little better about how the books are to be used! We found that last time some busy young mothers/ aunties were leaving their babies alone with the books so they could do their work without carrying the baby on their back.. resulting in damaged books! Yesterday we started by training the grown ups how to turn pages. We have also now asked that the books only be used with a grown up, as this is part of the 'sharing a book' experience. Also that the books be kept somewhere safe and special. Let's hope this will result in fewer damaged books!!

I LOVE THIS!!!

Gacharageini library: we are still waiting for paint to dry before we can apply last coat. The trainees even helped with some of the painting! They have completed all books now (YEAY!) and are making a start on sorting out catalogue cards this week! We have also had to find a new fundi (carpenter)- twice!- to make the rest of the furniture. This has been a challenge!
We hope money for wiring and carpet will be available this coming week..

Sipili Library... Well, Joseph will move in to new building this week, even though the solar power is still not installed. We will then start Little Hands making Big Steps in September in Sipili.
We have also submitted our proposal to Coca Cola Africa about our tree nursery and water trough idea based in Sipili community Library compound.. waiting for their response!

Oh Yes! We now have some great new signs to go beside the entrance door of each KLT library! Kawangware were given theirs yesterday. The signs are 9 inches square and made of metal, and painted with our bibliosaur logo.. will post a photo of one next time!

That's it!!! Talk soon!

Anne

Things are moving again...

2010-07-18T09:47:00.000+03:00

Little Hands Big Steps babies graduated yesterday! They each received a certificate, a super T shirt, and 2 books! I now have the old bags to wash, repairs to make to the books, and replacements to find if repair not possible! THEN we can start LHBS round two at Kawangware!!

Kawangware also received 5 new shelves courtesy of a donation from the Altmann family; for Mum and Dad combined birthdays! We have been able to give some new stock to fill the new shelves' Kawangware will now have a Young Adults collection for the first time, also new picture books, first readers and more Adults fiction MANY thanks Altmann family!!! Will be sending you photos when the books go onto the shelves!

Sipili Library meanwhile is sooo nearly ready! Painting is done inside (sorry! photo didnt work!), water tank and gutters are in now for rain harvesting, just waiting for our solar power.. Joseph is champing at the bit wanting to move shelves and books down to new building... SOON!!! We are also working on a water project with Coca Cola Africa to help the environment here, and to help the local girls.

Gacharageini. Well, we start painting on monday... at last! There will be two walls we cannot paint right now as the plaster is not dry, but we will paint all the rest. We hope to receive our extra funding via BookAid International to put electrical wiring in, and our super carpet! Still hope to open 14th August!!

I think I should explain about the photos of the building! The top half of the building is owned by the local Catholic church: it is their church hall, and they never finished building it. The bottom half (BEAUTIFULLY built by our builder Zack!) is the library! The photo below is the back of the building, and the photo to the left shows the corner to the front.

That is it for this week!!! I am doing storytelling training with the trainees at Gacharageini on Monday, then helping with painting as of Wednesday. Patrick is as always pushing builders, helping motivate and rushing around finding materials!

Talk next week!!

Anne

Watching plaster dry so we can watch paint dry afterwards!

2010-07-10T09:29:00.000+03:00

Very quiet at the minute! At Gacharageini the trainees are still making their way through the adults non fiction, and discovering the delights (yawn!) of classification! The building is plastered, and we are waiting for it to dry before we can paint... with the weather being so wet (either rain or solid mist) this is getting to be a worry... lastest estimate is 4 months!!!! We need to apply some HEAT...

Sipili: well gutters went on on Thursday, and painting is under way. Just solar power to install.. New library sign is organised too.

Little Hands Big Steps: Kawangware children 'graduate' on saturday next week! So will have photos for you then!

Talk next week!

Anne

Imagine this painted white with a blue carpet....

2010-06-24T17:20:00.000+03:00

Gacharageini library floor... as smoothe as a baby's bottom! Wonderful straight pillars too!!! painting is next (white), then a blue - or possibly green?- carpet, then move shelving in!

We have a donation now of FOUR desktop computers from the Phillips family. Two of these will go in to Gacharageini library, to support the computer programme we will be given by Biovision. This deals with agriculture and environment. The other two will probably go to Sipili library with the same computer programme, as well as for use by the public.

We had a visitor from the UK over the weekend from Holy Trinity and St Peters church in UK, who donated us funding for Little Hands Big Steps. Liz Holder met the LHBS mum's at Kawangware library They filled all the floor space in the library looking at and sharing books. Jon Hargreaves and his daughter Bella also came along.

AFK books have arrived, and we go to collect them tomorrow from Nairobi. 29 boxes of books and cassettes. GREAT!

Talk soon!!!

Anne and Patrick

Gacharageini no longer floor-less!!!! (sorry!)

2010-06-12T10:06:00.001+03:00

Gacharageini library now has a floor! it is still not quite finished, but will be this week! Plastering of walls- and those wonderful pillars!- starts this week with second consignment of Bookaid donation!

Trainees have completed all kids stock as of Yesterday (friday) and will start adults stock on Monday!

Talk soon!!!

Anne

Little Hands continue to THRILL ME!!!

2010-06-05T18:56:00.000+03:00

Little Hands at Kawangware!. All Mums turned up for week three! The comments are now amazing about how their children are reacting to the bags of books! Many kids call them 'their books'. and ask for the bag of books as they wake. The tactile books are proving to be very popular, and several of the children are maknig animals noises to the animals in the books- and when seeing them outside!

Many are asking for books for their older children, because the older siblings want to read the younger siblings books! Some of them do read together.

Faline and Bella reading together.

A group of Mums reading to their kids at Kawangware.

Gacharageini library now has windows!!! Floor should go in this coming week!

the building looks wonderful and full of light. Floor should go in this week, then plastering, painting, ramp to main doors etc. Bookcases are being made - some already completed- so then we move in and continue training in the library proper! 2 weeks maybe..

EXCITING TIMES!!!!

I talk to the trees... well, we all will be able to at Sipil library soon!

2010-05-30T16:55:00.000+03:00

Just a quickie! Rosslyn River Garden Centre in Nairobi has donated 20 native trees and 80 (yes, 80!) shrubs for our Sipili library compound! Patrick collected them on friday friday and drove up with them on Saturday! Joseph will get help planting them on Monday. His plan is that a child will adopt a tree or a shrub, and learn how to take care of it..! Cunning!!!

Will post photos later after planting!

Where to begin?!!!! So much to tell!!!

2010-05-21T10:22:00.001+03:00

Hello!

Well this week has been crazy! On Saturday we launched Little Hands Big Steps at Kawangware library.. 15 parents turned up!!! We only asked for 10!
Patrick and I both talked about the project, and Peggy (now chair person of LHBS) spoke about how it went in Mathare North last year (Peggy was a member of the first LHBS group of parents in Mathare North). Peggy is going back this week, and Patrick and I will return in two weeks to see how it is going! As always a big thank you to our donor from Holy Trinity and St Peter Legacy group in Wimbledon, UK. Hope to launch Little Hands Big Steps in Sipili after they have moved into their new building....

Sipili library next!
Anne and Patrick went to visit the new building this week. It is still not quite finished.. hopefully by the end of next week! There is some painting and tidying to do.. also our sign has to be completed, stating that Safaricom Foundation are the donor and that it is a KLT library!

the loos!

And now for Gacharageini! We are hoping that the walls will be completed by the end of next week, and the windows in. We then need to wait for the second installment of funding from BookAid International to do floor, reinforce sustaining wall, plaster and paint inside.. then move in! Very exciting! This library has taken us on the builders adventure.. to some very unexpected places.. for example finding crop gum trees to cut down to make scaffolding... assessing types of cement..

Training is coming on well. The seven trainess have nearly completed the childrens' fiction, and will start on Adults fiction next week.. the delights of classification will wait a wee bit longer!!

Will talk again in a week or two! Enjoy photos!!!

Anne

Bags are packed.. we're ready to go...

2010-05-09T11:42:00.000+03:00

Little Hands Big Steps bags are packed for two libraries! We launch at Kawangware library on Saturday 15th May, then at Sipili the following week! Other libraries will follow. We need to get more bags printed up too.. so more mess!! Yeay!!!

MANY thanks again to Westland Sundries, a local bookshop for giving us 20% discount on some of our LHBS books!

PLUS! We should start building our Gacharageini library this week! This has taken much longer than we anticipated due to problems with the existing building, and trying to find materials ourselves We should be all set by Wednesday or Thurs! Will post photos when The Event starts!!! As always thanks to BookAid International for sponsoring this new library!

Still much rain here in Gacharageini, so have bought some wellies/ gum boots- Very fetching black ones! Ha!

Sipili library should open in its new building this month.. fingers and toes crossed! Thanks as always to Safaricom Foundation for sponsoring the new building

Lots of visitors coming from UK and USA this month and next month!

Talk soon!!!

Anne

Little Hands... made lots of mess!

2010-04-25T07:23:00.000+03:00

Many kids turned up to have their hands painted to decorate our Little Hands Big Steps bags yesterday! This is Faline, who will also become one of the participants of Little Hands Big Steps at our Kawangware library!

Next step is to put books into the bags, then train staff in their use! Hope to get rest of books as soon as we get the quotations from the shops!

TALK SOON!!!

WORK HAS BEGUN- and so has the rain!!!

2010-04-17T16:08:00.001+03:00

Now Anne is back in Kenya we can get on and DO stuff!!!

Yesterday Anne and Patrick visited the site of the new building in Sipili . The library looks wonderful- I love the blue! We have some small jobs to finish- letting th eplaster dry being a major job, and difficult to accomplish due to the rains being frequent and heavy at the moment. Still hope to open early May... fingers crossed!!! This is another project funded by SAFARICOM FOUNDATION. Thank you so much!!

Little Hands... Little Hands Big Steps stage 2! We have now oganised to do the hand prints on the LHBS bags on April 24th at Kawangware library! We hope to get about 10 3 year olds to help us decorate our bags! Anne has book collections organised- some more to buy, then we can start staff training with them and introduce to our KLT centres! Exciting stuff!!!

Gacharageini Library Well we are here in Gacharageini and making a start! The KLT books are here, and 7 trainees selected. They now know all abour what KLT does- and why we do it!! Look at that view outside the library window.. breathtaking! Sould have bank account sorted out this week so we can purchase stationary and start work... a change of priest a month ago has caused many delays! Think we should be back on track soon!! Many thanks to BOOKAID INTERNATIONAL for funding this project!

Possible New Library in Kinamba village in Laikipia West.

Patrick and I had a meeting with some chosen community members - including the local chief- in Kinamba about making a library there. Kinamba is somewhere we know well, having to pass through it to get to Sipili. It has a population of over 20,000 in 2009 censu, with many primary and secondary schools. It is an active, buzzing community all day every day.. great for a library.

The library committee is made up of retired teachers, farmers, and shop keepers. They are putting a proposal together to KLT, and we will then try to find donor money to make LIBRARY NUMBER 7!! We hope to be able to make Sipili and Kinamba 'sister' libraries, and have them working together to serve a larger community, possibly with Joseph from Sipili in overall charge of both libraries.

Kinamba Library committee... plus Patrick!

Kawangware Library is benefitting form a donation from Rachel Altmann and her family so we can purchase 4 new library shelves- 3 for the children's area, and one for the adults. THANK YOU ALTMANN FAMILY!!

Anne and Patrick have taken visitors from CISP (an Italian NGO) to visit Mathare North MYSA centre, had meetings with Don Howrad and his lady wife re a collaboration over training staff in making children's libraries, organised meeting swith another two groups, and accepted a donation of books form Francis Oludhe (to be delivered on Saturday).. and I havent even been here 2 weeks yet!!!

SOOO good to be back and working again doing what I love , and what I know is needed! Talk after LHBS painting session!!!!

Back to Kenya!!!

2010-03-28T13:37:00.000+03:00

I'm goin' Home!

Will be back in Kenya in April! We have funding from BookAid International (courtesy of Agrekko) to make our new library in Gacharageini village in Muranga district! 8 trainees (Yes, I did say EIGHT!) are chomping at the bit waiting to start their training! This should take about 6 months all up, during which time Anne will be living in Gacharageini village- with some forays down to Nairobi!

Anne will also be able to create the new Little Hands Big Steps collections for all of our libraries! This courtesy of a donation received in January from Holy Trinity church South Wimbledon. SOOO looking forward to introducing this to other centres, and watching the responses of both toddlers and their carers.. and their neighbours, family members, friends etc etc!

Anne also has MANY people waiting to visit our libraries on her return, including an Italian NGO and a development worker.

Also dying to see how our new building for Sipili centre is shaping up- again, many thanks to Safaricom Foundation. We are hoping to re open in our new premesis mid April... fingers crossed!

We are DESPERATELY hoping that further more permenant funding will arrive while Anne is in Kenya.

In order to make our libraries and develop them Anne needs to be in Kenya to advise and train staff in this new concept of libraries, attitudes to books, and to learning and education. Eventually the concept will stick, but currently much guidence and training is still needed. This obviously involves funding Anne to live in Kenya (rent, medical insurance, food, work permit renewal etc etc).

There is our challenge!

Talk soon!

We are still workin....

2010-02-13T16:57:00.001+02:00

Although I am still in Scotland (STILL trying to find donors to get me back to Kenya to continue developing our libraries, AND to create new ones) the work continues!!!

Sipili Library update!
Latest piccies of our new library building!! (Feb 12th 2010)

It is starting to look like a building now!!! Thank you Safaricom Foundation, and THANK YOU to Patrick who has been doing up weekly to supervise the construction- DESPITE having no vehicle to get there (ours if off the road until we can get new tyres).

Edinburgh Half Marathon.

We are now up to possibly 15 'runners' willing to run for KLT!! Charlie's friend Sophia has mobilised Cyprus to sponsor her! Hope we can raise at least some money to make a dent in our target of £50,000.This will pay Anne, Patrick and Joseph (Sipili), develop exisiting five centres, and create two new ones, and keep us operational for a year- with luck!

Hope!
I have been reading 'Three Cups of Tea' by Greg Mortenson (a wonderful true story of perseverence..) he found a donor to help him create schools through his mountaineering contacts... SURELY there must be someone with money who can SEE what we are achieving and HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THE CHILDREN- AND YOUTH- OF KENYA??!

BookAid International.
The MYSA libraries have now completed their assessment forms of the books they received from BookAid in December, and have also completed teh list for their requirements for this year. I will go through these this weekend and get them off to BookAid International on Monday. Hope we are in time!

All libraries are busy collecting inspirational stories from their users, about how the libraries have affected them and their lives. We can use these stories hopefully to generate interest.. Maybe put a few on the blog too!!

KEEP THE FAITH!!!

Anne

From Little Acorns do mighty oaks grow...

2010-01-16T10:13:00.000+02:00

Here are piccies of the building work started as of 2nd week of January at

Sipili KLT centre.!

Patrick has gone up today to see what has happened in the last week. Very exciting! Thank you Safaricom Foundation!

ALSO the bags are nearly finished for our Little Hands Big Steps project to expand into all of our centres! Next steps will be photos of three year olds decorating the bags with their hand prints! We hope to do this at Eastleigh MYSA centre Then books, then training .. then launch!!

All KLT centres are now busy with their new consigment of books from BookAid International! They are currently assessing the new selection, completing forms for what they want for next year, and adding new materials to stock!! Now we have 6 centres completing forms! Githurai and Maili Saba MYSA libraries are now on board!!

We are still desperately seeking a donor to build our new centre in Murang'a district.. Books are all ready, sustainability set up...just need the building!

Talk soon!!!

Anne

Sankofa

2009-12-30T16:52:00.000+02:00

Hi All!

Well Sankofa: a journal of African Children's and Young Adult Literature Volume 8 2009 is out in USA... AND WE ARE IN IT!!! Our Patron Beverley Naidoo has written a great article about her book Burn my Heart, and she talks a lot about KLT- including about Little Hands Big Steps, and our Super Angels girls groups!! Do have a look, and let me know if you manage to see it!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

...and there's more...

2009-12-19T17:10:00.000+02:00

AND... We have received funding from the Marion Esling Legacy, Holy Trinity & St Peters Church Wimbledon towards the Little Hands Big Steps project, to the tune of £5000!!! This is AWESOME!!! MANY MANY THANKS!!

Anne and Patrick will start working on this early in the new year to get the books organised, get a group together to have a marvellously mucky time doing hand prints with 3 year olds from our libraries- this is how we decorate the LHBS bookbags!-, then distrubute to all KLT centres. WONDERFUL! Have been dying to do this since we launched the first LHBS in June!

Hope is restored!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Emm Wiki.. be proud!!!

2009-12-19T16:41:00.000+02:00

Well guys, I need to lose weight NOW never mind after Christmas!

SOO I have entered KidslLibs Trust as a charity entrant in theEdinburgh Half marathon (13. something miles)! Anyone interested in running with me? I start training in New Year... I have paid for 5 places, and other ones will have to pay for themselves.. SORRY!

Want to try to get T shirts with our logo on (our wee Bibliosaur) and run wearing big round specs like he has, plus carry a book (like he does!).

Already have a specs shop trying to locate the glasses frames for us!!

This is a great way both to get fit AND to raise money for KLT.. I am planning on approaching public libraries here to see if they will put up a display and put out sponsor forms or collection boxes..

ANY more ideas welcome!!!

Santa is coming- to Sipili!!! Watch this space!

2009-12-17T09:40:00.000+02:00

The space in question is here:

YEAY!! Safaricom Foundation have agreed to give us the money to build our new library in Sipili! Patrick is collecting first installment today (17th Dec), so we should be able to start construction early in New Year! Patrick will be supervising the construction.

ALSO Maili Saba now has its carpet and is open to the public- at last!!! They still - from what I can pick up- have no catalogue drawers, and still need to replace kinderboxes and children's shelving, but we hope MYSA will find these things in the very near future. The community of Maili Saba have waited SOOO long! WELL DONE Kennedy and Simon!

Githurai is making progress under the direction of Douglas (who was trained at Maili Saba).They are processing their books currently. Douglas also helped out with...

BookAid International book delivery! These books arrived when Anne was in Kenya. They have now been sorted by Patrick, with the help of Steve and Charles from Mathare North MYSA centre, and of Douglas from Githurai MYSA centre. Patrick has delevered these books to all MYSA centres so far, and will get to Sipili we hope before Christmas. He is checking on the situation at Kawangware library before taking the books there.

We are still hoping for good news re a donor to build our centre in Murang'a district...

I am SO relieved that KLT and the libraries are continuing- even though I am not there. What a relief! I am looking for donors, but may have to get a full time job, save like mad, and get back to Kenya under my own power.

We received money during the November campaign, and this will in part help Patrick visit the libraries etc and deliver stock (fuel costs etc).

We have several proposals in to help us create more Little Hands Big Steps bag sets, so we can run the project from every KLT centre, and also for girlchild 'Super Angels' groups. Hope to get some positive news soon.

That's it for now! Talk soon! Any ideas of funds gratefully received! There is so much more we can do!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Help Anne to get back to Kenya to get more libraries open, and to develop exisiting ones in good positive ways.. and to spread the word about books.

Whirlwind trip in Kenya- to windy wet Scotland!!

2009-11-25T10:52:00.000+02:00

HI All!
Anne now back in Scotland working socks off on more proposals! SOMEONE has to sponsor us!!
Getting donations from friends and wellwishers in USA through the efforts of Susan's online fundraiser...$600 so far.. THANK YOU!!!!!
Good trip to Kenya:- Visited libraries, had libraries meeting, took BookAid International's Lesley, and Jana from Aggreko to see our proposed library in Murang'a district..Went via KNLS(Kenya National Library Service) library in Thika... an eye opener I can tell you! Had 'tea' with a whole lot of powerful people (from USA Ambassador, to Prime ministers wife-!!!-) at Manu Chandaria's house.. cant for the life of me work out why I was invited, but I collected business cards, and have E mailed 'em all!!! Left more money for car repairs (sigh!), and are several steps nearer to securing funding from Safaricom Foundation for our new building for our library in Sipili!!!

OOO YES! Our books form Bookaid also arrived while I was there! Patrick collected them yesterday and they are now at our office waiting to be sorted into individual library's stock, then taken to each library.

ALSO met up with Little Hands Big Steps Mums at Mathare North. WOW! They want more!! So pleased! This idea is working and expanding! They feel wanted and important through the programme, and dont want this to end. They actually wrote me two letters, which I will put into this months Bibliosaur magazine.. if you want a copy E mail me!!

Now back in Scotland... Gonna see my Mum n Charlotte (my eldest) tho soon!! Yeay!

Post FROM KENYA!!!!

2009-11-15T11:04:00.000+02:00

November 15th 2009

Sitting at Java coffee house in Sarit Centre as if I had never been away! Been here for nearly a week now... and have I been busy!

Had a libraries meeting with staff from all centres, and caught up with what has - and hasnt!- been happening.

Visited Kawangware library, and sorted out what has been going on there... a bit of "while the cat is away the mice will play"...Think have got Isobella back working there too, which is great. Have re inforced KLT concept and we all OK now!

Visited new MYSA Githurai library, and met all the staff. Douglas - who used to be at Mailie Saba- is now in charge there. The library has its shelving - which is APPALLING quality- and its stock, which we have started processing. Staff are now aware fo the reason for the library, and of what INFORMAL learning is. We actually have a lady here called Lillian... It would be good to see her stay! MYSA is giving all these volunteers lunch and transport money during their training.

We have decided to give the KLT office computer which we never use to Sipili library, so they can start a sustainability project. Susan Phillips has also promised to donate 2 printers and a second desk top computer for this. Patrick will help them find suitable premesis outside the library. They will offer printing, scanning facilities.

Also in regard to Sipili, Joseph who runs the library there has suffered greatly during the last year because of drought. We had previously purchased him a donkey with which he can make a small amount of omoney to sustain himself (remember, he is unpaid). During the drought the donkey died. Anne and Patrick will fund another donkey for him, as the rains have finally come, and he can put the donkey to work so he can buy food, and help his Dad who is sick.

Safaricom Foundation has agreed to fund building a new library for Sipili centre! Anne checked through all the documents on arriving in Kenya, and found some things included which were not needed, and some which WERE needed had been forgotten. We have signed documents, and submitted the required changes to Safaricom Foundation, and are hoping they will agree to these minimal changes.
At last! A permanent home for our Sipili library!!!

Maili Saba MYSA library is still not open due ot lack of fundning to complete the making of last pieces of shelving and the carpeting. Anne has sent off two proposals to two different organisations this week to get this library open.! It has beenr eady to open since February.. staff are trainind and the local commuity have been eagerly awaiting their new library. Thier hopes have been stunted by this delay. I would LOVE to see them open by Christmas. We are looking at about 68,000/- Kenyan Shillings.

Anne has also done a proposal to UNIASC, who gave us money earlier this year for books for our Little Hands, Big Steps project. This time we are asking for either money for Maili Saba, or money to purchase Africa Collection books for Sipili Centre

NEXT WEEK!

Anne is working with BookAid International, with some organisations who make libraries in the slums areas. Should be interesting!

We are also taking a prospective donor to visit our proposed library in Murang'a district. Fingers crossed!! We will be talking to community members etc about why they need a library etc, and looking at the existing building and proposed alterations.

During Anne's time in Scotland she set up a KidsLibs Trust group on Facebook! We have 30 members already!!!

Anne returns to Scotland on 21st, hoping n praying for miracle funding to get her back to Kenya for a period of at least a year (prefurabley for 5 years!) to complete and develop exisiting libraries, and to finish creating up to 4 others.

Anne is not the only one who has been busy!

Susan Phillips- our Trusty Trustee!- has been coordinating an on line fundraising and awareness campaign throughout November! These have been some fun letters to our online supporters asking them to send our details on to friends and familiy who may be interested. usan has also been updating the website and keeping it fun and interesting! ALSO she has been networking like mad, as well as keeping Patrick mobile thorugh providing funds for fuel etc needed to do his KLT work.

Patrick has been manning the fort while Anne has been away. He has liased with Safaricom Foundation about our wonderful Toyota Hilux, and also about the library in Sipili; he has collected many donations of stock, unpacked books at our office at Sara Lee's,etc etc etc. THANK YOU!!!!

Jane Ainslie in UK is busy still trying to set us up as a UK charity! This will help us so much, allowing us to apply for a greater range of funding, as well as allowing donors to claim their tax back.

Neil Jones our accountant has risen to the challenge, and has been producing KLT accounts for us which are needed to be submitted with many proposals.

OK! Talk again soon!!!

VISITING MY KENYA N KLT!

2009-10-26T21:36:00.000+02:00

Well, after 8 weeks in Scotland applying for temporary jobs, Christmas jobs, library assistant one night a week jobs, I have landed a job for 4 days which gets me home to Kenya!

I will be back on 9th November to visit all libraries and friends, then have work with BOOKAID INTERNATIONAL for four days, showing them the KLT libraries, taking a prospective donor to Muranga proposed centre, and helping to write a proposal!

CANT WAIT!

ALSO Sara Peterson in USA has re designed our KLT leaflet, and is raisingmoney to get some printed!! YEAY!! GO Sara!! She is also doing the sub titling of the dramas and raps performed by the kids in our libraries.

THERE ARE SOME GREAT PEOPLE OUT THERE who believe in us!

Marline Peterson her Mum is also trying to raise money for us, through putting articles in Libraries of Hope Magazine.

Patricia Little, a member of AFK who came to see Mathare North MYSA centre in August has also sent us some fuel money, also Donna Kranik donated some fuel money, so Patrick was able to collect books, visit libraries, sort books at Sara Lee etc. MANY THANKS!!! Every little helps!

Rosslyn Academy have again donated some books.

We are mid doing the paperwork for Coca Cola Africa too.. all fingers and toes crossed for 3 years of funding...! Many thanks to Susan Githuku for her help with Coke.

Githurai opened with no books, but Joshe tells me he has started training staff there.

Autumn here has been so beautiful! Now the wind is taking the brightly coloured leaves off the trees and blowing them into heaps.. which I am delighting in jumping in!!! My first autumn for 16 years...

Some sad sad sad news. Our Trustee and very dear friend Jill Simpson passed away on Wednesday last week, of a sudden and completely unexpected heart attack. We are devastated by her passing, but will keep in touch with Angus her husband.
Jill contributed in so many ways to KLT, particularly in her local knowledge and her enthusiasm and belief in what we are trying to accomplish with KLT libraries.

Patrick has been holding the fort, holding down his night job, and keeping KLT operational.. he is amazing! THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

KLT - well, Patrick!- also moved Little Hands Big Steps to Sipili library a few weeks ago! We hope this will work as well as it did in Mathare North! We also hope to get a report about their Super Angels girls group very soon... even get some photos!
Safaricom Foundation, not only have donated us a Toyota Hilux, but they are also funding the building of a new building for our Sipili library so we can move out of the two classrooms at Lariak Primary school! Patrick has been gathering up all the required documents they have asked for, and we may be under way in the New Year!

We should also mention the mechanic who has been helping us with repairs to the Safaricom vehicle for free. Such help from local businesses is rare and greatly appreciated. A BIG thank you form ALL KLT staff!

Think that is it! Wil write more after my trip to my Kenya and the libraries!

Is now dark here by 5pm.. the clocks went back on Saturday night... such short days...

It's gettin chilly.. Needing miracles

2009-10-06T15:48:00.000+03:00

Well, Anne still in Scotland, and Patrick holding the fort in Kenya!

Anne has written several proposals- formal and informal in style!- but no replies as yet! Sir Richard Branson has been approached too.

Hoping to give some talks to Lions clubs, Rotary Clubs, and Girl Guide groups, but no replies from them either.

Still hunting for a printer to produce our KLT leaflet, which has been re designed by Sara Peterson in USA!... best price so far is £90 for 250 leaflets... £90 too much!

Patrick has been sorting vehicle repairs, and getting the sticker for the hilux... NOT an easy task!

Pat has also been stamping and packing children's stock for Gacharageini Village, Njumbi Location, Mathioya Division in Muranga library, and talking to several new groups who are wanting libraries.

We are also talking to Rafiki Trust in Kisumu area re creating several libraries with them in the Kisumu area.

Anne's work permit is renewed! Yeay!

Githurai MYSA library was formally opened in September with their Dutch donor. The library still has no shelving or stock or staff, but these will come... Anne has to return to train staff and organise stock here!

We are also awaiting the arrival of a large donation of bookstock from BookAid International for all existing libraries.

We are also hoping for a positive response from Bookaid re a donor to build the rest of the library in Gacharageini Village, Njumbi Location, Mathioya Division in Muranga- another project that Anne has to be back to complete! VERY FRUSTRATING!!!

Praying for miracles now...

Tis a Braw bricht nicht the nicht...

2009-09-10T20:19:00.000+03:00

Well am in Scotland, n am tryin to get back to Kenya!

Working with Jane Ainslie to make KLT UK branch! Also with Susan who is working to get an annual budget (required for all proposals and to become a UK charity) from our accountant Neil.

I am also trying to find a printer in Edinburgh to print our KLT leaflet for free... this is a real challenge!!

Little Hands, Big Steps closed at Mathare North! THe children will receive a goodie bag (of books!) and a certificate this Saturday. LHBS will move to Sipili Library! Let's see if it will be as successful there! When we get funding we hope to create some new sets of books and introduce in all centres, rotating families rather than the books!!

Just a wee update today!!!

Talk soon!

The Time has come.. I WILL BE BACK!!!

2009-08-20T07:21:00.000+03:00

The Time has come (the walrus said).

Going to UK (Edinburgh) to find donor/s to continue working and making libraries here in Kenya. Leaving on 27th. Will be back asap! Patrick in charge while I am away with the help of Trusty Trustee Susan!!

I WILL BE BACK (Arnie S. said)!!!

Bibliosaur Newsletter on the Blog!

2009-07-27T07:50:00.000+03:00

· Car issues: Have no car as she is sold. So limited currently to what is possible! Safaricom have promised our vehicle on the first week of August, so here’s hoping!

· Proposals have been sent to Oprah and to Coca Cola Africa..

· Funding expires end of August now...

· STILL looking for a donor to produce our KLT leaflet... and to print the booklists!

· Jane Ainslie from UK visited Mathare North and Kawangware libraries on 25^th July, with her 9 year old daughter Kate! Jane is very interested in setting KLT up as a charity, and coordinating fund raising etc when she returns to the UK! THANK YOU!!! This means we will at last be able to apply to Comic Relief for funding, and for other donor organisations also require UK charity status. Jane also brought toys, pens, paper, and a wonderful pack of posters and games for each centre.

· Sara Lee Ltd has donated boxes of sanitary towels for our Mathare North centre Super Angels girls group, and for Sipili centre.

· Really desperately wanting funding to start our girls group in Sipili.... about 70 girls are waiting for their club to start! We need about KSH5000/- (about £45) per month (this is transport and lunch costs for our speakers).

· The consignment of books organised from the UK by Pauline Cunningham arrived in the KidsLibs office safely!! Sorting them as and when we can get to the office! THANK YOU SO MUCH PAULINE!!

· Requesting for donations of class sets of children’s novels (about 20 copies of each title) for our book-clubs, which will resume in September with the new school year at the international schools. We are trying to find books based loosely on a theme of tolerance and reconciliation, for children aged about 10 -12 years. We have already used S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, Beverley Naidoo’s Burn My Heart, Jeanne DePrau’s City of Ember, Heaven’s Shop by..., Hoot by.... and Shabanu by... Would LOVE a set of Michelle Paver’s Wolf Brother for example..

· Possible new centre in Murang’a area.

The adults books for Murang’a were delivered to the site! BookAid International are trying to find a donor for us to finish building this wonderful new library.

· BookAid are also sending us new stock for each of our centres

· AFK are due to visit KLT in August. They have sent on a donation of stock, which has arrived in Nairobi! We are organising how to get it to KLT office... no vehicle!!!

· Sipili we are still trying to find a donor to build us a new building including fencing, a toilet block, a security guard house and solar power. Looks like the security issues are being sorted out, as many arrests have been made. Joseph, who runs the library there, has organised his library group to making a drama about how the post election violence affected the children in his area. He wants to make a DVD of this. We are trying to find him funding for costumes etc.

· Anne is doing some training on holiday activities with all staff members at our July meeting next week. Anne is also mentioning Dyslexia, which no one is Kenya out of the international schools has heard of.

· STILL NEED NEW TRUSTEES and chair, as Smita is no longer available...ALSO a new treasurer, both willing to be signatories on the KLT account.. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE?? We also need these Trustees to be ACTIVE, helping write proposals, finding contacts, etc

TALK AGAIN NEXT MONTH!

DONT FORGET TO KEEP WATCHING OUR WEBSITE!!!

kidslibstrust.org

Orange is KLT projects

Green is existing KLT centres

Purple is proposed new centres

Blue is donors

one wheel on my wagon, n I'm still rollin along....

2009-07-15T21:16:00.000+03:00

Well RAV has gone! SOO sad! Now have no car as am living off the car money until end of August. STILL waiting for Safaricom to give us the long promised pick up.. starting to doubt its existance!

Cant get to libraries now other than by taxi, matatu or hire a car.

Consignment of books arrived from UK courtesy of Pauline Cunningham and Tony Kennedy! They arrived on Monday, and we will start to unpack tomorrow! It is like Christmas!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! Cant get books like these in Kenya!!

Anne also working on renewal of her work permit..see?! Still living in hope!! Have a meeting with KNLS tomorrow re this.

Joseph in Sipili, Laikipia West has been prepairing a drama dealing with the post election violence (which is still going on there) with the library clubs. They want us to make a DVD of this. So we are trying to find funding for costumes, make up etc.

The website has been updated in part, and each centre page now has a photo of their staff on their home page!!

BookAid International is trying to find funding for us to make the centre in Murang'a! Stock has been boxed and sent up to Murang'a this week.We have also filled in the copious number of forms per KLT centre to apply for stock donations for each KLT centre from BookAid.

MYSA is trying hard now to get Maili Saba open before the end of July. Let's hope they succeed!

Proposals have been sent to Coca Cola Africa and to Oprah... Someone has to feel we are worth it and support us!! Ever hopeful!!

Talk again soon!!!

Little Hands really ARE Making Big Steps!!

2009-07-01T20:02:00.000+03:00

Well LHBS has been running for three weeks now! The comments from the logbooks are great - we now know that:

Schofield (age 13 months) likes books about animals and likes to make the noises!!!!
All the kids love anything with animals
All kids like colourful books
All kids hated 'Moja means one' even tho it is in Swahili!
Kids love to trun the pages
Parents and other family members also reading the books!
Most are managing to read even for ashort while daily. Some only a few times a week, one 20 minutes twice a day!

Parents were told that reading didnt matter at this stage, Using language and enjoying the books was the most important.. and this seems to be working!
I will go to talk to the parnts this weekend to see how they are doing too! Trying to convince fathers that they can do this too.

I love my work!!!

Little Hands Big Steps was launched yesterday!!

2009-06-08T07:07:00.000+03:00

At last Little Hands Big Steps is running!

We launched yesterday at Mathare North MYSA library with four Mums and one Dad!! Our youngest is 3 months, and out oldest 4 years!! We started by giving the books to each chil- one immediately stopped crying! The four year old had been running around, and he sat SOO well on his Mums knee!

I explained how the book bags are exchanged every week for a period of 10 weeks. Also about the little logbook inside each bag, which they must complete every week (this says how often they used the books, if any other family member helped, if the children liked or disliked the books, etc). Steve explained how there will be a certificate at the end of the 10 weeks, and that each child will be given some books to keep at home after the programme.

If this works we will introduce LHBS to other centres and start a trend of reading in Kenya with under 5 year olds!!!

Many thanks to AFK and Norwich Rotary club in the USA for their donation of funds to purchase some of the books for this... cant do it without you guys!!!

May activity!!

2009-05-25T14:50:00.000+03:00

Nothing much has happened this month, but every step - even a shuffle!- in the right direction is good news!

e proposals have been sent. However, we now have a young lady who is visiting in Gilgil who is a professional proposal writer- Lorna. Lorna is working on a proposal for us, and also some letters of enquiry: Proposals will go to Richard Branson, and ‘letters of enquiry’ to Oprah and to Global Fund for Children (letters of enquiry are sent, then, if there is interest we will be requested to make a full proposal.

· Funding expires end of July...

· Kawangware paperwork is completed and signed! New staff have been interviewed, and Lucy started working there last week! Maurice is still there from the original staff as a paid volunteer. The library has been PACKED over April- May, due to school holidays. DEC (who run the library) moved tables outside the building so all people wanting to use the library could be accommodated!

Henry from Kawangware centre receiving his certificate.

· Booklists. Anne has created a ‘Fantasy Booklist’; a list of recommended fantasy themed books for older children... these have a small review. We hope to get children and staff from each of our centres to create their own themed lists! We would like to get this list – and others to follow- printed and available for our library users.

· STILL looking for a donor to produce our KLT leaflet...

· Safaricom Foundation has given us a letter to say that they intend to give us a pick up truck! Anne is now working on the required paperwork, which will go to Safaricom this week! We may yet have our vehicle before the end of May... watch this space!!!

· We have started a girlchild club at Mathare North. Ann Chege talked to a group of 20 girls (aged 10 – 22) about hygiene. Ann has also talked to the girls about early marriages. The girls have called themselves Mathare Super Angels!

We are keen to start our club in Sipili in Laikipia West. A lady Kenyan

psychologist is keen to help us with this group, but we are having trouble finding a convenient Saturday! We still have no funding for transport, food, etc, but hope to combine the first visit with our monthly visit to the library.

· Duty exemption from KRA.. the is still being organised. Not hopeful though.

· STILL trying to find someone to set us up as a charity in the UK.. This is rather urgent as we want to apply to Comic Relief for funding, and have to be a registered charity in the UK before we can apply. We even have a letter of support form DFAID waiting to attach to our application!

· A consignment of books is being organised from the UK by Pauline Cunningham. These have left the UK and are on their way to Kenya!

· Maili Saba is still not open. Waiting for rest of furniture, catalogue drawers and carpet, which is dependent on funding from MYSA. Very discouraging for both staff and the local community, whose enthusiasm has been sadly dampened.

Douglas from Maili Saba receiving his certificate

· Little Hands, Big Steps, our family reading project is starting at Mathare North in June! This is a trial project! If it works we will introduce to our other centres. 5 families/ carers of under 5 year olds have been chosen by MN staff. They will each receive a bag of 5 books every week, returning their bag weekly to receive a new one, for a 10 week period, with instructions on how to use them with their youngest children. Introducing books at this age is not only a great boost to their later education, but is a joy and a means to increase parent/ child bonding.AFK in the USA have helped with this project, supplying book-bags, and facilitating a donation form Norwich Rotary club in the USA with which we have purchased some of the Africa themed books included in our book-bags

Steve reading with his son Schofield

· Staff at all centres received their basic library training certificates at the April libraries meeting! Storytelling course certificates will follow!

· Possible new centre in Marang’a area.

Anne and Patrick have had meetings with several organisations re making further centres. The most positive one is in Marang’a area up country. This is with our great friend and colleague Zack Gichane, who is responsible for our liaison with Sara Lee Kenya (they give us free office space, as well as supporting Mathare North library financially). We visited the area (predominantly tea growing), and spoke to some community members. There is in existing building- see previous blog!

· We plan to computerise Maile Saba and Kawangware centres, using Bookmark, which was donated to KLT some years ago by the Australian High Commission. This will give a computerised catalogue (accessible by staff and children) and a computerised issue system.

· Kids in Mathare North have been writing stories and accounts of how the post election violence affected them. The best of these will be sent to Beverley Naidoo (our patron, and famous children’s author) who wants to read them.

· We got the new camcorder in March- and are now in receipt of a digital camera, donated by Carol Craven from Martha’s Vineyard in the USA! Susan Phillips visited the USA recently and brought the camera back with her. This will be so useful for good quality photos for the website.

· Anne gave a talk to 11 year olds at Rosslyn Academy. As a result we now have a power-point presentation suitable to show children! It was very interesting to see what these – mainly- ex patriate children knew about the lot of children of their own age in Kenya. The children also donated seven boxes of books!!

· Githurai we are told is still coming on, waiting for its next batch of funding. Anne and Patrick had a meeting with the Dutch donor (money given to MYSA). Not hopeful.

· Kasarani is still putting out proposals for funding of their proposed centre.

· Ngong Town is also still trying to find funding for their children’s library. The largest part of the costings here is for their sustainability scheme.. they want to raise chickens

· Sipili we are still trying to find a donor to build us a new building, as Lariak Primary school has asked us to move out as they have decided that they need the two classrooms we are currently using. We have the land donated, and are looking for approximately 1.6 million Kenyan shillings to build a building exactly the same size as the one we are leaving. The money includes fencing, a toilet block, a security guard house and solar power. We are also looking for a sustainability plan here... we still think the purchase of a tractor and plough would be appropriate here, as we can hire it out and use the profit to sustain the library, staff etc.

· Susan had managed to find someone to publish the wonderful ‘Trading Fives’ book she and ISK produced with groups of children from ISK and Mathare North last year. She is hoping to sell them through ISK and raise some money so the Mathare North kids can have a copy of their own each.

· We are also trying to find first aid kits and fire extinguishers for each of the centres. AFK in the USA have promised us First Aid Kits when they come over in August. THANK YOU!!!

· STILL NEED A NEW TRUSTEE and chair, as Smita is no longer available...ALSO a new treasurer, both willing to be signatories on the KLT account.. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE??

SOOO SAD!!!! But staying positive!!!

2009-05-06T17:22:00.000+03:00

My poor little RAV 4 has gone up for sale... I feel like I am selling a child! She is gettin old, and in need of much repair- which is expensive. Dont know what I will do without a car.. taxis and matatus I suppose, until Safaricom make good on their offer of a vehicle ... ever trusting!!!

Patrick and I went to see a possible new library in Muranga district. What a beautiful area!! Hills, rivers, and a LOT of tea!! Many schools with no access to resources, information or reading materials. We have been offered space temporarily in the catholic church hall, until money can be raised to complete the huge spave beneath the building to make a wonderful library- with the most amazing, inspiring views!! The temporary space just needs painting and a few walls knocking through, plus furniture (which can be transferred to new library when it is ready).. Watch this (blog) spot!!!

Mathare Angels... and other Angels!
Girls group 'Mathare Angels' is progressing well!! At their last session they discussed early pregnancy, and ways to avoid it.. very interesting as to how they see themselves. Comments on how the media portrays provocotive materials, and how girls dress being two issues. Still desperate to get funding to start this in Sipili.Our lady psychologist Karindi is making space in her diary for a first visit on a saturday in June.. She is SOOO psyched!!!!

Duty exemption... gulp!
Well, accounts went in finally this week. Neil Jones and associates have worked SOOO hard on these, so I hope we are successful!

More proposals sent off.. no replies, so still no funding...

Little Hands, Big Steps.
Researching on research (?!) showing benefits of using books with under5 year olds... including babies. This to back up our Little Hands, Big Steps project. Hope to start our project by the end of May. Quite exciting!!

That's it for today!!! Any ideas welcome!!!

April news

2009-04-19T10:37:00.000+03:00

Hello again!!

Well, panic is setting in as funding is within sight of running out again! Anne has been madly writing proposals- and has even had a reply from a few- both negative unfortunately (Shell Kenya, and KCB Bank).

Some positive stuff tho!!

LITTLE HANDS, BIG STEPS..
This is our family reading project! We received a donation of $205 USD from American Friends of Kenya (via funding from Norwich Rotary foundation) to purchase African books. Anne and Patrick went to Westland Sundries here in Kenya and were able to purchase 29 picture books for under 5 year olds for our Little Hands project- at 20% discount! We still need more books for this project, as we plan to offer 5 books in each of - intitially -10 bookbags for Mathare North, and possibly Kawangware.We need board books, and other picture books to encourage our youngest members to use books. We aim to ask 'family' members to sit and use books with their under 5's for at least 5 minutes every daypreferable sitting in warmth and safety on a knee, talking, showing colour and shapes.. not necessarity reading at all! This develops language, and a positive 'feel' for books from a very young age. AFK are also supplying the bookbags, which our hard working trusty Trustee Susan will collect on her visit to the US at the end of April.

Girls United!
Mathare North has started our first Girl child club! Anne Chege - who used to work for SHOFCO in Kibera - has just completed their second meeting. At the first meeting they talked about what issues affected the girls living in Mathare North area 4. These included periods, hygiene, boys and sex, HIV Aids,child labour, and early pregnancy. 20 girls between the ages of 10 and 22 years old came. We plan to have inspirational Kenyan women to come to talk to the girls about what is possible being female! We have a Kenyna psychologist, a lady engineer, a lady lawyer lined up just to mention a few!

New Centres
Still no progress from Ngong Town, Kasarani, or Githurai. Maili Saba should be opening just as soon as the rest of thier furniture arrive (carpet, catalogue drawers, shelves, staff desk, notice boards...)

Safaricom and our pick up!
We are still awaiting the donation of our vehicle from Safaricom! They say by the end of this month...

Duty Exemption???
We are still pursuing duty exemption for KLT. Neil our accountant should have accounts ready for KRA this coming week... then we all cross our fingers!!! Tight!

Tink that it guys!! Talk again soon!!! Send us any comments about the new website too, OK??

March 24th 2009 MARCH!!! ARGHHH!!!! Where is year goin??

2009-03-24T15:31:00.001+02:00

My goodness! Where did the month go?A lot went with Susan and Ian who have LAUNCHED THE NEW WEBSITE!!!!! Check it out!!!

kidslibstrust.org

Rest has gone on sorting out contract with a wonderful legal firm, who have created a new contract for KidsLbs Trust with any new CBO's- including DEC at Kawangware, Working at Braeburn (now finished!) and trying to organise duty exemption with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)... all scary stuff!!!

Maili Saba should open in next week or so. Crime rate in Nairobi is not good, and have wimped out three times now on my way to Maili Saba (outer ringroad through Kariobangi North) and turned around and come home- including today. Went to office instead.

Have had meetings re making new centre in Garissa and Mumias. Collected a donation from Braeburn school and more to collect from Rosslyn.

Sent proposals to Bamburi Cement for KLT for 3 year sponsorship, Australian High Commission for Girlchild project in Sipili, and to UN Spouses group for family reading scheme in conjunction with Westland Sundries bookshop in Nairobi (Kawangware and Mathare North).. for more details of these projects see the new website!!!