Do you have a childhood memory so strong that to this day,
by simply concentrating, you can remember the exact smell of that
environment?
Do you remember the smell of a library? I vividly remember going to libraries with my
mom when I was little, ones with thousands of books, wooden index card boxes,
children’s corners with soft seating and bright colors, and the distinct smell
of paper mixed with the smell of the clear tape they used to affix the white
Dewey system labels to the backs of the books.
You could go to different libraries – the school library, the public
library, even a library in a different town, and the scent of books was still so familiar.
I couldn’t wait to learn to read. What an amazing key to the world: opportunities to learn
about the world around me, about people, adventures, faraway places... endless stories to be discovered. My mom
was a school teacher, so trips to her school or the library, or access to books were abundant. I had my own collection
of books at home, and when I needed something different to read, I’d venture
into newspapers, travel brochures, catalogues, and old Reader’s Digests from
the 1960’s from the bookshelves at my grandfather’s house. There was never a shortage of textbooks in our schools, we even had used ones at home to use and play 'school' with.
The hardest thing for me wasn’t learning to read, or picking
out a book... it was simply the limit of
books I was allowed to check out at a time. I had one friend in elementary school who
didn’t share my love of reading. We made
a deal – I would sign out my maximum of 4 books, and she would sign out another
4 for me under her name. I’d be all set until
we went back to the library a week later.
It was something that I took for granted as a child growing
up in Canada. I don’t think it ever
dawned on me until I became an adult that reading isn’t always a part of
childhood, and neither is access to books.
In 2011, one of the 17 children I sponsor, a boy from Ghana
named Ato Sam, shared with me through one of his letters that his Ghanian
village, Enyan Abaasa, struggled with the scarcity of books. He explained that he had a thirst for
knowledge, dreamed of becoming an engineer, but without access to books, it was
difficult to learn English and to learn to read, much less to find the vast
amount of knowledge he sought to learn. In my response, I told him that every town
and every school in Canada had its own library, that even our church had a
library.
Our church library is as big as Ato Sam’s house.
Astounded, he struggled to imagine this.
I had made efforts to send a book to Ato Sam with every
letter I wrote to him... within mere months, he had more books than his entire
village combined. I told him that
someday, perhaps he could open his own library and bookstore, and be the
manager of such a tremendous resource for his village.
The boy who once had very little hope, was beginning to
boldly dream.
So was I.
I continued to ensure that with every letter I wrote to him,
I also sent an educational book that he could read and share. In a subsequent letter, Ato Sam boldly told
me that since I help so many people around the world, would I consider helping
the children of his own country? Knowing
me well enough to know that I wouldn’t let him down, he boldly asked me when I
was coming.
Although my initial thought was to help only his family or
his village, I wanted to demonstrate my love for him by first doing something
for his country. After some research, I
learned of the thousands of kids enslaved in the Lake Volta region of
Ghana. After carefully studying the
options, a plan was formed to raise funds to increase the resources available
so that more children can be rescued. By
November of 2011, our tiny team had not only successfully raised the $30,000
required, plus the travel costs, but we traveled to Ghana and took part in the
rescue of two more Lake Volta children. (Read about our project *here*
and about our trip *here*)
It was during this trip that I also traveled to Ato Sam’s
village for the first time and met this amazing boy in person.
(Photo credit: Tia Kollar)
Being in his village and meeting him fueled
our dream to provide book resources to his village, to help the entire village
community increase not only their literacy, but their ability to lift
themselves out of poverty.
(Photo credit: Tia Kollar)
And yes, we brought many books with us to give to them
during our time in Ghana.
When I returned home, I couldn’t shake the dream of seeing
Enyan Abaasa have the resource of books accessible to everyone. I began collecting books, knowing I would see
that dream come to life in time.
Imagine how hard it is for a child or an adult to be
encouraged to learn how to read and write when reading materials aren’t readily
available? It’s also hard for people to
find work, for teachers to teach, for business owners to write receipts or
understand the laws, for students to continue their education... for people to know their rights... illiteracy has
a much greater impact than I can wrap my mind around. Above all, it enters into a vicious circle
with poverty – they feed each other.
A library would help break that cycle for one village and for the generations that will follow...
A library would help break that cycle for one village and for the generations that will follow...
(Photo Credits, Tia Kollar)
After much planning, research and prayer, I knew it was time
to turn this dream into a reality. In
January of 2014, I reached out to the Enyan Abaasa community through Compassion
Canada, asking them how they felt about the possibility of a library in their
community. It was important to me that
this was their dream too, that their community was truly interested in this and
would benefit from it. The response was
very positive. Not only did they respond
that yes, a library would greatly benefit their community, that it would help
increase the level of literacy and help people break the cycle of poverty, but
they were prepared to provide the land and the logistics of building it.
I asked them to provide to me a plan of what they had in
mind, and how much it would cost to build.
They responded with a very thorough, thoughtfully drafted plan for a
library that includes a small bookstore, an office, and even a restroom – a welcomed
luxury in rural Ghana. True to these humble,
gracious people, the plans weren’t flashy or excessive; rather, the
library/bookstore plans are very functional, methodical and well thought
through... And much better than I could
have dreamt on my own.
The detailed material list I received from them included the
quantity of and price of everything, including boxes of the nails they’d need,
cement bags, lumber, tiles, measurements, labor, etc... even the water barrels and the truckloads of
sand are accounted for. The land has been
secured by the local church, the management team is in place, sustainability
has been thought through long-term. The
community, from the children to the elderly, will benefit as a whole and are
engaged and ready to invest into this invaluable resource.
This is no longer my dreams, but theirs. In fact, it is no longer a dream, but becoming
a reality.
A fundraising team has been established to raise funds to
build the Greater Grace Library & Bookstore for the village of Enyan
Abaasa, in partnership with Compassion Canada, who will oversee the project
logistics in Ghana.
I’m experiencing strong feelings of déjà vu – just as we did
in 2011, we are starting empty handed with the finished project estimated to cost $23,000US, ($16,000 for the construction, with the rest for the books, resources and furnishings). This includes a contingency buffer in the event that construction costs increase or something unforeseen happens during the construction phase. Once again, our only plan is to step forward in faith, one certain step
at a time, believing in what we set forth to do. It’s a sacrificial dream, it will take
everything we have to make it happen, and God’s only plan for this project is
His people. He has promised this to us,
and He will provide.
We cannot stop at only the construction costs; once the constructions costs are raised, while the library is being built, we will shift our focus to stocking the shelves with educational books and resources.
My son Brandon and his girlfriend Maddie will be raising funds at their high school, while my other son Joshua and my daughter Jillian will be raising funds at each of their schools. My husband and I will be raising funds together through family, friends, work, church, social networking and the community at large.
Once the library project is completed, we hope to accompany Ato Sam and
his family to the opening ceremony.
As we did in 2011, we start empty handed. I don’t have $23,000, and it’s likely that
neither of us have $23,000. To you and I,
building this library may seem like an insurmountable challenge. What matters is that we serve a God for Whom
nothing is impossible, a God who has gathered us together to make a difference
in this community. Every penny counts,
every bake sale and yard sale important, every donation precious and life
changing.
What an amazing opportunity to make a difference.
Alone, we can’t.
Together, we can.
Please join us!
_____________________________________________
Donations can be made by Paypal using this email:
Africa@beyondmeasure.me
OR:
Tax receipts will be provided for donations
exceeding $20, in both Canada and in the U.S.
(We will need your full name and address for the receipts).
(We will need your full name and address for the receipts).
Thank you... merci... meda ase.