Tell A Story Day is October 28th

This is a date to look out for..wonder what we can do? Must make a plan. Watch this space.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Tell-a-Story-Day-2012.html?soid=1102422031395&aid=R3lv95Vwh1Q

The role of libraries in the fight against HIV/AIDS: Are you all in?

I could not find a blogger link on this interesting Beyond Access article so I am cutting and pasting it below (taken from http://www.beyondaccess.net/2012/08/06/the-role-of-libraries-in-the-fight-against-hivaids-are-you-all-in/).

At the end of the article on the Beyond Access website they ask for the readers thoughts. I definately think our libraries can house critical information on HIV for different ages and sectors and can also be a community based venue for discussion as needed. If an HIV and AIDS shelf had age sensitive materials in the children's section, that would be a good start.

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I am ALL In

That was the resounding commitment from participants of last month’s AIDS 2012 conferencein Washington, D.C. It even inspired the popular #imALLin hashtag on Twitter.

Big names like Bill Gates, Secretary Clinton and, yes, even singer Elton John came together to assess the current state of the epidemic, evaluate medical developments and chart a course that will lead to the fulfillment of the UN’s sixth Millenium Development Goal (MDG) of combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

We all know that the disease is far from over. More than 34 million people are now living with HIV worldwide, including 2.5 million new infections last year alone, according to some estimates. Despite these statistics, it was refreshing to see so much hope and unity in the quest for a cure. Among the key conference themes was the need for strong partnerships and community engagement. That’s where libraries come in.

Beyond Access member libraries around the world are showcasing innovative approaches to building HIV/AIDS awareness that lead to prevention.

What exactly do libraries have to do with disease prevention? A lot actually. Here are a couple examples:

• ·       Libraries are trusted institutions on the front lines: In 2011, the Kitengesa Community Library along with three other libraries in the Uganda Community Libraries Association launched a project to run health reading camps for teenagers to discuss books about HIV/AIDS. In safe, trusted environments young people in transitioning countries can have open, informative discussions about HIV/AIDS and other challenges that face their communities.
• ·       Libraries are ideal partners to expand outreach: When HIV/AIDS infections were on the rise in a small Nepalese village, local NGOs established a partnership with the Laxmi Narayan Community Library and Resource Center to provide counseling to more than 1,200 community members. HIV-positive individuals were previously forced to travel hours for treatment, but the new partnership enabled them to obtain their anti-retroviral drugs at the nearby library.

As we continue to work toward an ultimate end to this terrible disease, it’s essential for citizens in developing countries to have access to information that will help them prevent HIV/AIDS transmission and seek information for effective treatment. 

Libraries are an effective community partner in this fight.

 

Inflatable Bag Monsters from useless hot air!

Great article this. How imaginative. We have so MUCH hot air in Zim....pity we couldn't harness it for happiness rather than propaganda!!!

KarmaTube: Joshua Allen Harris' Inflatable Bag Monsters

Through the kind efforts and leadership of Chipo Nzonzo and the creative skills and spare time of three busy local artists Tatenda, Tich and Tami we should have an exciting and inspirational reading tree in the story telling corner at Mount Pleasant Branch library in the not too distant future.

Watch this space. When we are not reading, we are doing. Nice :-)

From street kids to suburban lighties

Saturday at the book fair started busily and we had a room full of youngsters at 11am. Today I really noted the diversity of the kids attending. We had a core group of street children (little tiny Grace for example, in the same clothes since Thursday and carrying around the prize she won on Friday in her hand). When we realised the situation we swapped the Irish fridge magnet she had gotten for winning a drawing competition for a shiny rubber ball. She loved it. A plastic bag went a long way to help her carry her stuff around.

Grace was very quiet but very determined. I have no idea what her life is like but for the 3 days of the book fair she was a child having fun with other children. Her comrades on the street were there, children of the book fair stall holders were there, children from the flats across the road were there, children from all across Harare, black, brown and white, were there. The book fair is important on a level we sometimes forget. It is a vital social tool.

Whilst the fair began to wind down round midday, the flyers Deirdre and I gave out over lunch saw the tent fill to the brim by 2pm for the last story telling session of the day. Today Wee Jimmy  visited his granny again to find the little red house with no windows and a star inside...he also visited Loch Ness and had an adventure with a new friend...albeit a strange one!!! And the story of the giants causeway was beautifully told by Deirdre to a rapt and curious tent of children, parents and visitors from the Irish Mashonaland Society.

The day could not have gone smoothly with just Deirdre and myself telling stories. Thanks to Lindiwe and Memory from our library volunteer group for coming along, brining sweets and treats and organising the kids, keeping things in order and giving out the prizes at the end. I love our volunteers, people who give of their precious time always have a special place in my heart.

Here are some pictures captured on my phone.

Deirdre telling her Irish tales

A full house and a view of the Irish bunting

The parents came in full force as well as some folks from the Irish Mashonaland Society at the back there

Me and Wee Jimmy telling our tale. 

Getting the children involved

Wee Jimmy was moving around the room as the monster swam with him in the Loch

Drawing and poetry displayed around the tent

Wee Jimmy

At the book fair

Thursday opened with a bang. Classes from 7 schools, all in uniform, passed through the tent. Library staff and our reading volunteers were in attendance. Here are some pictures from Chipo Nzonzo.

Levina under the HCL main banner in the Children's reading tent

Takwana HCL staff in charge of the tent and volunteer reader Melissa Chaora beside a display

Thuthani Moyo in between telling stories of Africa

The children read quietly in between story and discussion sessions

I made it across today around 1pm. The break for lunch and some activities at the publishers stands gave myself, Deirdre and volunteer reader Deborah Makoni time to put up the Irish bunting, rearrange the chairs and get my Scottish flag hanging up.

When the children returned we competed with the live literature people, cleverly located back to back just so as to drown out the reading to the children (sigh) to tell several Celtic stories. The Star Apple and What a Haggis Looks like from me (and wee Jimmy) and an Irish tale of a wicked step mother who turned her step children into swans. Here are some of my pictures. Others with better camera work will follow and I will gallery them in another blog. In the meantime enjoy these and I am off to bed as we are up and reading again from 10am tomorrow.

Deborah reading to a full house of youngsters

Talking about the stories told

Children telling their own stories

Children re telling the Celtic tales..there is the St Andrews cross , borrowed from my sons bedroom door 

A shy young lady telling her version of the Irish tale

After What does a Haggis look like the children get busy drawing 

Deborah sorting through the picture competition of the Haggis where the children short list the best ones