GEN: Volunteer in Zimbabwe

[LAURA WENDELL <YOVO@prodigy.net>]

VOLUNTEER IN ZIMBABWE

Spend the summer of 2000 helping communities get access to the information
they need to build a better future.  As an Inform the World (ITW) Volunteer
Librarian in rural Africa, you could use your professional skills to help
rural librarians in English-speaking Zimbabwe. Instead of spending the
summer battling with your online catalog, you could teach a class on book
repair, help implement a simple cataloguing system, peddle a
bicycle-mounted book box to a remote village, or lead a donkey driven "book
mobile" to a group of eager children. If living and working in rural
Zimbabwe sounds like a challenge you would enjoy, then join us for this
exciting service project and help make the information poor a little bit
richer.

Who: The World Library Partnership (WLP) and the Zimbabwe Book Development
Council (ZBDC) will be working with a variety of Zimbabwean organization to
coordinate the ITW 2000 project. WLP supports libraries around the world
through exchange projects and produces training materials for librarians in
developing countries.  ZBDC promotes reading and literacy through its Book
Fund Library Project, which serves 600 libraries, and through its National
Book Week Campaign, which reaches 6000 schools.  It is the umbrella agency
for 8 constituent Zimbabwean organizations that work together to "promote a
sustainable, literate and informed society."

What: The Inform the World Program will train and place 10-15 American
librarians in rural libraries in Zimbabwe. The volunteers will conduct
practical service projects determined by the needs of their host libraries.
Last year's volunteers trained Zimbabwean librarians in basic skills such
as how to inventory, weed, repair and catalog books. They also used their
knowledge and creativity to paint murals, make display boards, produce
publicity fliers and pamphlets and help clean, brighten and re-organize
Zimbabwean libraries.  After returning to the U.S., the volunteers will
also work with WLP to design projects that will continue to help the
libraries they visit.

When:  The pre-departure cross-cultural and technical training will take
place at the School of Information and Library Science of the University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill from July 15 - July 17th.   The volunteers will
depart for Zimbabwe following the training and will return to the US on
August 12th. When they arrive in Zimbabwe, they will participate in an
in-country orientation before spending three weeks working at their host
libraries.  The trip will also include a visit to the Zimbabwe
International Book Fair for both the American and Zimbabwean librarians and
a debriefing/evaluation session for all participants.

Eligibility:  WLP invites professional librarians and library school
students from all disciplines to apply.  Flexibility, a sense of adventure
and the ability to adapt to very basic living conditions are a must.

Cost: The maximum cost of the trip is $3,850. This includes:

- placement at a Zimbabwean library
- training at the University of North Carolina School of Information and
Library   Science
- materials
- in-country orientation and debriefing
- accommodations
- most meals
- site visit by trip coordinator during project
- registration for the Zimbabwe International Book Fair
- in-country transportation
- round-trip airfare from Durham to Zimbabwe.

Travel to Durham, NC is NOT included.  The final price of the trip will be
determined by the amount of funding WLP is able to raise for the ITW
scholarship fund.  WLP distributes this funding equally among all the
volunteers requesting financial assistance. WLP can provide materials and
suggestions to help volunteers secure additional funding from other
sources.

Deadline: The Application Deadline is January 31st, 2000.  Please see the
WLP web site at http://rtpnet.org/wlp for the application and more trip
information, or call (919)479-0163 or email Laura Wendell at
yovo@prodigy.net


Laura Wendell
Executive Director
The World Library Partnership
1028 Bahama Rd.
Bahama, NC 27503
http://RTPnet.org/~wlp
(919)479-0163
yovo@prodigy.net

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu   In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
From: Jenni Elliott <jelliott@EHSHOUSTON.ORG>