It's Africa Calling, Act Three

October 8, 2007 – evening

Dear Friends, its Africa calling…

Act Three

I have so much to tell you that I went back to the typewriter tonight. The Sports Academy kids really gave me pause. There are moments when the pain-mingled joy of being here makes me stop and go silent.

“Those kids (the young athletes) will never ever forget your gifts” -- Roland kept repeating this phrase over and over. Unknown to me, the Highlights for Children magazine in Honesdale, PA, sent three boxes of books and magazines to us in Kumbo. The Himalayan Institute staff gave them as gifts to the athletes during the Summer Awards Ceremony at the Sports Academy. “There are no books here for poor children, they will never ever forget your gifts!” – it was Roland again. He is the federal judge of the high court; I believe him.

Stella, his wife and a third grade teacher, choruses in: “All my children at my elementary school need books. They love to read and we have no books in this town.”

Books … does anyone here remember that I am an author? A bookless land is unacceptable to those of us who spend years writing books.

Enter Stage Right, Act Three now begins.
The scene is in a large unfurnished concrete bunker that I am told is the library.

Brain Drain to Brain Gain -- A Perfect Proving Ground
A few days ago, the mayor personally took us to the Kumbo public library. With two/thirds of the building abandoned and unfinished, it is filled with very few books but an awesome amount of possibility. My eyes quickly laid down carpet, paint and furniture over the concrete grayness. I imagined a huge media resource center and hundreds of patrons filling the two-story building. My dream sequence was short lived.

Everyone knows that library books offer adventure, fantasy, insight and solutions. It is impossible to know how many lives are changed by the resources and programs at fully functioning libraries. However, this library was clearly calling for help, I snapped photos that will quickly tell the story. I will show them to you later.

Every African village and country suffers from the brain drain of talented youth fleeing to first world countries that offer the rewards that everyone here yearns for. Standing beside a wall of empty unused book shelves, it became clear to me how the Dewey decimal system can help make dreams come true on local soil. A living library and community center can stop the brain drain of the adults and youth in Africa. Modern knowledge, working systems and global connections can turn Kumbo into a Brain Gain scenario.

My dear friend and expert interior designer, Chelsea, immediately created a blueprint of the two story building. The lower entrance level will become transformed into a cultural center of local and national history, a gift shop and the children’s library. The upper floor will house the adult library and computer internet division, along with private meeting rooms and two rooms for overnight guests.

We need books.

I will write more later.

Love from Kumbo,

Blair