Build A Library In My West African Village

I remember being a kid in my West African village searching through a storage room full of books to find something that would capture my imagination. Take me to a different world. I'd sit in the "aisle" and read Tintin with my only source of light seeping past the doorway. Reading gave me a sense of control in an otherwise intimidating world. It helped fortify my curiousity. That storage room is long gone and the books long forgotten, but my curiosity still remains. I want the kids of my village to feel that same feeling.

My village is covered with rolling hills. Trees are ripe with tropical fruits. Dirt paths lead you to discover all sorts of mysteries. It's a magical place, and despite its limited resources, bright faces welcome you everywhere you go. Amongst these faces, you'll find children on their way to school. Like me, at their age, they wonder how best to give back to the village that raised them.

If it takes a village to raise a child, what does it take to raise the village out of poverty?

To me, the answer is education.

Studies have proven over and over again that educating children, particularly young girls, is the bedrock of development for any struggling region.

Without proper education, a child's mind is a flower without roots, unable to bloom. So, we are building a library in my village's elementary school to help foster these young minds.

A selection of English and French books will readily be available for kids looking to expand their minds and inspire their imagination. We will also purchase several computers for communal use.

Where are we building?

Bamikoure is a small village in the highland region of Guinea - a country whose literacy rate is amongst the lowest in the world. The school's infrastructure is falling apart; the "wall" surrounding it is currently made up of branches.

What are we building?

We are raising money to help build a library in the village's elementary school. Adjoining the library will be a classroom that will act as a pre-school to help transition village children into academic life.

How much will it cost?

At a price tag of $80,000, we will be building a library, an adjoining pre-school classroom, and a wall to surround the school's perimeter. The funds will also go towards fixing and repainting the school.

Who we are?

I am a member of an American-based non-profit (Union for the Development of Bamikoure Dembeleyabe, tax ID 86-2554569) whose mandate is to help the development of my ancestral village.