Seed's Academy Library Fundraiser

Library Fundraiser for Seeds Academy

As a part of my work here in Kenya, I have been given the task of getting the library at Seeds Academy arranged. This was no small undertaking let me assure you. After sorting through piles of books, textbooks, teaching resources, paper, and all of the other items found in the library at Seeds Academy, I was a little bit overwhelmed.  Through some very generous donors, we have been provided with some excellent teaching materials and books. We also keep our class textbooks, PE equipment, exercise books, manipulatives, and science equipment in the library.  However, the library is lacking in the necessary materials to keep our supplies safe. Humidity is high here in Kenya and for a good bit of the year so it the dust and dirt that flies in through every crack and crevice, and these two natural occurrences make it hard to keep materials such as construction paper, sentence strips, and other things useable for more than just a short period of time. 

The problem was easy to identify: dust, dirt and humidity are destroying books and other materials in the library. The solution was not so quick to come. I have however come up with what will be a good start to protecting our current materials and supplies, and will be working with others in the future to continue to come up with ways to prevent these problems. 

So I bet you are wondering, "What is the solution you have?" and "What can I/we do to help you get to that solution?" First of all, the solution. I have been searching high and low to find what will be best to store materials, and here is the list of what I have come up with and how each item will be used.

• Trash cans: We need two of these. One is for collecting trash and the other is going to be used to store the sticks the children use when they are performing dances for the teams and other visitors during opening and closing ceremonies.
• 4 drawer plastic storage unit: We need four of these. These units will be used to store materials such as construction paper, markers, crayons and other supplies.
• 2 drawer plastic storage unit: We need two of these. These units will also be used for the storage of materials and supplies.
• Plastic baskets: We are requesting twenty of these to be used to store small materials and other things to be put out for student use in the library.
• 30 liter plastic storage containers: We are requesting five of these to be used to store PE equipment as well as larger teaching materials.
• Under the bed stock boxes: We are requesting five of these as well. These too will be used to store larger materials such as big books and teaching supplies.

As a part of the library fund raiser, I am also including some funds to be used to bring in an electrician to add some outlets and to repair the light fixture in the library. It gets rather dark when the rain clouds roll in each day and it makes it hard to see in the library to get much of anything accomplished. 

Now for the cost of the project. In total the project should cost about $1000. Here is how that breaks down:

• Trash cans: 475 shillings each: 2 @ 475 sh= 975 sh
• 4 drawer storage: 5,365 shillings each: 4 @ 5,365 = 21,460 sh
• 2 drawer storage: 2,785 shillings each: 2 @ 2,785= 5,570 sh
• Plastic baskets: 275 shillings each: 20 @ 275= 5,500 sh
• 30 L storage: 1,995 shillings each: 5 @ 1,995= 9,975 sh
• Stock box: 1,695 shillings each: 5 @ 1,695= 8,475 sh
• Electrician: 12,000 shillings for the project
• Cleaning materials (mop, broom, mop bucket, dust pan, trash bags, etc.) : 4,000 shillings
• Extra supplies for the library (math kits, chalk, erasers, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, etc.) 5,000 shillings

Now to clear this up for you just a little bit with the conversions. We usually are able to get about 82 shillings per US dollar. Therefore we need 82,000 shillings to cover the project. If we come up with extra funds after all of the project has been completed, we plan to put the money towards other ongoing projects at the school. 

If you would like to help fund this project there are a couple of ways you can donate. You may go to the Chicks for Children Foundation, Inc. website located at www.chicksforchildren.org. Through the website, you may click on the Donate link at the top of the page and follow the steps there. Please make sure you designate that you want the money to be used for the library project. You may also mail a check to Chicks for Children Foundation, Inc. PO Box 10753 Conway, AR 72033. Again please designate in the memo line that the money is to be used for the library project.  

I can't even begin to tell you how much these simple materials are going to make an impact on the library and how it functions. Pictures will be coming as the project progresses. Please share this with your friends and family.

Blessings to you,
Melody and Jim