Peace Corps Volunteer Hope Wall helped launch a small woodworking business and a community library were launched at Wakapoa in the lower Pomeroon



Peace Corps Volunteer Hope Wall helped launch a small woodworking business and a community library were launched at Wakapoa in the lower Pomeroon

Woodworking venture and library launched in Lower Pomeroon

Stabroek News, Guyana

February 7, 2005

A small woodworking business and a community library were launched at Wakapoa in the lower Pomeroon last month.

And the business facility which is located at Massarie Island in Wakapoa has started to produce furniture for the local market.

The 'ADA Mekeabo' woodworking project is intended to be a sustainable self-help business which is expected to provide employment opportunities in Wakapoa. 'ADA Mekeabo' is Arawak for woodworking.

The project which came into being during September 2004 at a cost of approximately $2 million was funded in part by the Wakapoa Village Council, the U.S. Peace Corps/USAID Small Project Assistance, along with special support from each work group member and the original Juice Centre at Charity.

Training has been provided by qualified professionals with joinery and furniture design skills. Selected leaders from the work groups have undergone advanced training. Community Development Officer and former Captain, Lloyd Perreira who chaired the proceedings said the project was like "a dream come through."

Manager of the facility, Jones Richards gave an overview of the project which now has eight staff members. Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Guyana, Alex McLaren, representing the U.S. Ambassador, congratulated the volunteers and staff and encouraged residents to support the project so that it can be of benefit to the community.

Peace Corps volunteer (Health) Hope Wall also congratulated all who were involved in the project and called for the cooperation of the residents. She then planted a young crabwood tree on the site as a symbol for the success of the project.

There was also a dedication ceremony for the library at Mora settlement in Wakapoa. It was named Hope's Reading Foundation after Hope Wall.

Construction of the building commenced in June 2003. Wood was donated by members of the community while zinc sheets were supplied by the Village Council. The library was opened to the community on August 2, 2004 with 100 members and 10 librarians. The books were donated by the Guyana Book Foundation and the Hope Foundation. Wall called on residents especially the youths to spend time at the library reading.

Members of the community expressed their gratitude to everyone who worked to get both projects off the ground.

When this story was posted in February 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 27,000 index entries in 430 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today.

Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps The White House is proposing $345 Million for the Peace Corps for FY06 - a $27.7 Million (8.7%) increase that would allow at least two new posts and maintain the existing number of volunteers at approximately 7,700. Bush's 2002 proposal to double the Peace Corps to 14,000 volunteers appears to have been forgotten. The proposed budget still needs to be approved by Congress.

---

February 5, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Peace Corps swears in 12 new Country Directors 4 Feb Kenneth Hawkinson studies oral traditions of Mali 4 Feb Tony Hall urges politicians to bring religious faith to office 4 Feb Dodd opposes Gonzales nomination 3 Feb Dr. Robert Zeigler to head Rice Research Institute 3 Feb Taylor Hackford going into television with "E-Ring" 2 Feb President Bush's past promises in State of the Union 1 Feb Moreigh Wolf says gays cannot volunteer with partners 1 Feb Coleman to chair Peace Corps Subcommittee 1 Feb Vasquez assesses need in Southeast Asia 31 Jan James Bullington says Bush Inaugural speaks to PC 31 Jan Allen Andersson creates foundation to promote libraries 31 Jan Joseph Opala to film "Priscilla's Homecoming" 31 Jan Donna Shalala embarks on aggressive UM expansion 31 Jan Thomas Dichter says Poor Countries Need Smarter Aid 30 Jan Alberto Ibargüen to head Knight Foundation 28 Jan Helen Sheehy organizes "Endangered Peoples" exhibit 28 Jan

---

RPCVs mobilize support for Countries of Service RPCV Groups mobilize to support their Countries of Service. Over 200 RPCVS have already applied to the Crisis Corps to provide Tsunami Recovery aid, RPCVs have written a letter urging President Bush and Congress to aid Democracy in Ukraine, and RPCVs are writing NBC about a recent episode of the "West Wing" and asking them to get their facts right about Turkey.

RPCVs contend for Academy Awards Bolivia RPCV Taylor Hackford's film "Ray" is up for awards in six categories including best picture, best actor and best director. "Autism Is a World" co-produced by Sierra Leone RPCV Douglas Biklen and nominated for best Documentary Short Subject, seeks to increase awareness of developmental disabilities. Colombian film "El Rey," previously in the running for the foreign-language award, includes the urban legend that PCVs teamed up with El Rey to bring cocaine to U.S. soil.

Ask Not As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."

RPCVs active in new session of Congress In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.

Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Read the stories and leave your comments.