Tanzania: Chamazi Community Library Project
Construction Volunteers |
Kwekitui Students inspect the work |
Amina and Colleen on site |
Kwekitui Primary students |
Library Project Summary
Located 25 km south of Dar es Salaam is the rural community of Chamazi. This community has voiced its desire and need to gain access to a community library. We believe that through offering access to books and providing a quiet area to read, many who do not already appreciate the value of education will come to the realization that it is in-fact a very crucial part in fighting poverty, and for those who do already hold this appreciation for education will be pleased to have access to such a resource. This is based on the testimony of the benefits and effects that the Kwekitui Library that was constructed in 2004 has had in the Lushoto District, according to the chairman of Tanga Youth Development Association, David Chanyeghea;
“Many people now understand the importance of a library and they are coming to Kwekitui to read books. Even students from other schools and youth who are not in school are coming to use the Kwekitui library.”
The village that this library is being proposed to be built in is an eco-village that UVIKIUTA established in the 1990s. UVIKIUTA’s aim in this community is to build low-income housing and make it available to youth, to promote the use of eco-friendly energy sources such as bio-gas and solar energy, and to promote the conservation of the natural vegetation in and around the village. This eco-village is located in a rural area and serves the surrounding villages through developing the community into one that can offer various social services. This library would therefore be used by those in and around Chamazi and would be used as a tool to promote education to all generations.
The Student Volunteer Trip
Other areas of work that UVIKIUTA is involved with include the Bega kwa Bega (side by side) Work Camp which involves organized community volunteer work, communal living, and educational seminars. Accompanying the desire to construct a community library in Chamazi is to organize an educational young adult student trip that will visit the community during the library construction and will include all the same components as the Bega kwa Bega work camps, as well as additional Christian content. We will also be inviting a group of Tanzanian young adults to participate in all the work camp components as well as encouraging local community members to participate as volunteers in the construction of the library.
Library Project Cost
The construction cost of this library is $20,000 Canadian. This includes the cost of hiring local engineers to oversee the construction of the library. These funds will be raised through events and donors. All donations are eligible for tax receipts.
The Student Volunteer Trip Cost
The cost of the trip is $4500. This includes the cost of flights, accommodation, in-country transportation and food. These funds can be raised through events and donors as well. All donations are eligible for tax receipts.
How to Donate
Donations for the Chamazi Community Library Project can be payable to ACTS with a note made in the left hand corner (the memo portion) reading, Chamazi Library.