| Book Worming Dewey-eyed | |||||
|
|||||
|
When San Francisco graphic designer Tom Stader moved to China to teach English in 2003, he simply wanted to get a taste of a different culture, not necessarily change lives. After seeing firsthand some of the county's most impoverished elementary schools and orphanages, however, he decided he could do more. So he started The Library Project, an organization that donates books to under-funded schools in remote rural communities.
"I spent a lot of time in the countryside and I saw there was a great need for books," the Pennsylvania native says.
Stader started the project in 2006 when he donated libraries to two orphanages in Dalian. By the end of 2008, he estimates the project will have donated approximately 200,000 books and established 80 libraries throughout China, as well as 10 in Vietnam.
Typically, a library donated by Stader's organization will include around 800 local-language books, such as children's encyclopedias and dictionaries, as well as comic books popular with young readers. What's more, The Library Project will often provide bookshelves, reading mats and teaching aids. The cost for a complete library is only around RMB 7,000, thanks to book drives and partnerships with local charitable organizations that assist with logistics and transportation. Such help is vital to The Library Project, as the schools they help are often in hard-to-reach locations.
"Size is everything in China. Getting books from point A to point B can be very difficult," Stader admits.
In addition to books, The Library Project provides teachers and school administrators with a librarian-training program to help them make the most of their new resources. They also conduct a thorough follow-up evaluation to make sure the books are being used as intended, though Stader says he's never encountered any abuse of the program.
Tall and thin with a bushy pony tail, Stader radiates enthusiasm for The Library Project. He's also confident that the steady improvement of infrastructure in rural China will eventually make his work unnecessary. "I can't tell you how many positive things I've seen in China with regards to education," he says. "It's getting better. But there are still a lot of areas for improvement."
To help The Library Project deliver books to children in rural China, consider sponsoring a library, hosting a fundraising event or creating a partnership with your business or organization. The Library Project is also always looking for volunteers to help with their operations. For more information, visit www.library-project.org or call 159 2955 6183.
|
|||||
|
Tags :
|
|||||
| Post | |||||
 |
|
