The girls of Troop 1245 heard about Peace Corps Volunteer Jaime Geib through a Girl Scout parent. "She told us that Jamie wanted to start a library for the school children in Kwamhlanga. They were learning to read, but they didn't have any books," said Troop Leader Diane Szczepanowski. "At the time, our troop had many community service projects we were working on, but we decided this would be an excellent project to take on."
Thanks to a Girl Scout troop from Lancaster and a local Peace Corps volunteer, the children in Kwamhlanga, South Africa, have a library.
Books for SOUTH AFRICA
Lancaster Scouts provide a library for Kwanhlanga kids
By JUSTINE JANUSZKEWICZ
NeXt Correspondent
6/29/2005
Thanks to a Girl Scout troop from Lancaster and a local Peace Corps volunteer, the children in Kwamhlanga, South Africa, have a library.
The seven Girl Scouts, age 13 to 15, of Troop 1245 have not only sent three shipments of books; they have also become pen pals with the Kwamhlanga kids.
Peace Corps Volunteer Jaime Geib, a graduate of Maryvale High School and the University at Buffalo, spent 27 months in South Africa and returned to the U.S. in September. "I really wanted to explore another continent," says Geib. "I had traveled a lot before. When I traveled, I met a lot of people who had served in the Peace Corps, and it was always something I wanted to do before I could be satisfied. I also have a passion for helping others and for giving back to society. Today, there are too many people who take things for granted."
The girls of Troop 1245 heard about Geib through a Girl Scout parent. "She told us that Jamie wanted to start a library for the school children in Kwamhlanga. They were learning to read, but they didn't have any books," said Troop Leader Diane Szczepanowski. "At the time, our troop had many community service projects we were working on, but we decided this would be an excellent project to take on."
"At first, we didn't think that this project would be such a big deal," says Scout Nora Murray.
Along with passing out fliers to neighbors asking for books, the girls held several book drives. They also bought books at garage sales and book sales using some of the money they had raised from a craft sale. The girls received no replies from corporations they wrote to seeking sponsorship of the book drive, but the Park School donated leftover books from its book sale to the cause. Even though the Girl Scout Council of Buffalo and Erie County allotted some money for shipping costs, the troop had to pay for part of the shipping. They are charged one dollar a pound through the U.S. Post Office. (The first two shipments totaled 1,500 books, weighing 540 pounds!)
The school in Kwamhlanga used to be a jail, and it has tin shacks and barracks for classrooms. When it was turned into a school in 2000, there were 50 to 60 students of all ages per classroom.
"All of the problems you hear about in Social Studies class are true," says Scout Sabrina Zimmerman. "What we learn in Social Studies isn't even as deep as what these kids go through," adds Athena Lis.
With the aid of the Japanese Embassy, the school was reformed in 2004. Enrollment went from 200 to more than 800, so classrooms are still crowded. While American kids are used to counting down the days until summer vacation, schools are in great demand in Kwamhlanga, and kids are lucky if they can go to school. Their education ends in eighth grade.
The Girl Scouts sent their first shipment of books in May 2003, along with dozens of handmade bookmarks. Reading levels of books ranged from kindergarten to eighth grade. It took a few months for the books to get to South Africa. When they arrived, Geib sorted through them and took them to the school. "We were so excited to hear that the children were enjoying the books that we decided to send more," said Troop leader Lisa Lis. The troop held more book drives and mailed a second shipment in February 2004.
The Girl Scouts met Geib for the first time in March of this year when she came to a meeting, showed them pictures of the kids and talked about setting up the library. "It was very rewarding to see pictures of the school children in South Africa reading the books we sent to them," said Lisa.
"I can't imagine people not having books!" says Veronica McCoy.
"Most people here can't even imagine not having a cell phone!" Athena adds.
Along with sending books, the girls are pen pals with the South African children. When Geib returned recently to visit Kwamhlanga, the Scouts gave her scrapbook paper, stickers, markers and gel pens for the kids.
"All of our work became real to us when we got the letters back from the children in Africa who received the books," said Catie Murray.
In their letters, the South African children thanked the Scouts for the books, often writing "I love you" and "God Bless America."
The Girl Scouts sent their third shipment, of 900 books, last month. They'd like to send more books, but don't want to overcrowd the small school. There is potential to convert a storage building into a library, which Geib and the girls hope will happen, since the next library is more than 30 miles away.
Justine Januszkewicz just graduated from Amherst Central.
