Temwa - Sustainable Community Development, Malawi - Usisya Community Library opens

Tuesday, 02 October 2007 00:00

Temwa has proudly opened the first community library in Usisya that was funded with proceeds from the 2006 Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) Ball.

On the 15th of September 2007, Temwa proudly opened the first community library in Usisya. The day marked the culmination of a great deal of hard work by many people and of a project that has taken over a year from its conceptualisation to its completion.

The idea for the project was put forward by the Usisya community committee under the tenure of Sam Clark – the previous Project Manager. The committee identified a library as an important tool in helping people to maintain and improve upon the literacy skills learned at school, to increase their knowledge in a variety of areas and, last but not least, to learn to enjoy reading. However, resources were not initially available; that is until CVS came to the rescue with monies raised at their Temwa Fundraising Ball in September 2006.

Work started in January with a couple of local lads moulding bricks for us on site. This was also the time when the community’s participation was most important. They joined in collecting sand and soil for the brick moulding process. Their contribution took a little longer than expected and, coupled with delays due to Temwa being sold some sub standard locally fired bricks, meant that construction did not start in earnest until May. From then on, a small team of labourers, Temwa trained bricklayers and a local roofer proceeded, slowly but surely, to transform a sandy, scrubby plot of land into a well lit, nicely proportioned, airy building conducive to study and easily accessible to thousands of potential users.

Along the way Temwa had great help from the local primary schools in collecting sand and from an enthusiastic group of local volunteers in moving over 4000 bricks from where they had been fired to where the library is now standing.

The opening day itself was a well attended affair. The community hall was full of interested community members and local dignitaries who heard the Librarian for the Northern Region of Malawi sing the praises of Temwa for coming up with this project and pledging the support of the National Library Service in keeping the shelves stocked with a variety of materials. After speeches from the Project Manager and Mr Chinduti, a strong advocate for development in Usisya, everyone piled outside to witness Martin Collins of CVS cut a ribbon across the door and declare the library officially open. Guided tours of the library from the new librarian Harrison Mkolongo followed and the day was rounded off with some traditional dancing outside the community hall.

Since opening, the library has received an encouraging number of visitors and has generated significant interest. Many suggestions have been put forward as to what materials people would like to see on the shelves and Temwa has been putting down plans for encouraging as many people as possible to use the library. We are looking forward to seeing membership grow and to giving the people of Usisya the access to information they have lacked until now.

See photographs of the construction of the library

Watch the video of the library construction: