Rural library to help community

Two teachers, a global community effort and a dedicated group of high school students constitute the success story of how a school library was established in the village of Moletje outside Polokwane.
Jenné Nurse and Y-Binh Nguy?n, two Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs), recently paid a visit to the offices of Polokwane Observer to share their experiences after they first arrived at Boetse Secondary School in February, explaining that the Fulbright ETA program immerses recent American college graduates and young professionals into the world of teaching English in schools and universities abroad
Upon arrival the dynamic duo worked diligently to identify critical areas where they could use their skills beyond the classroom. Coaching the debate team soon followed as the teachers settled into living with a host family. “We love being able to work within the community,” Nurse said, and after careful observation the qualified teachers realised the benefits students and teachers alike would draw from an on-site library.
Nurse explained that the two ETAs placed at the same school last year also believed a library would be a safe space for students to conduct research for school projects. Nguy?n and Nurse’s vision extended beyond a traditional library space and through a chance meeting with Polokwane businesswoman Dinah Thema, the construction of a library with space for an outdoor classroom and reading benches soon started to take shape.
“I am excited to have been able to create a space where the learners can meet in,” Nguy?n said. As the news of the library spread to the local community and to their friends and families back home, book and monetary donations flooded in. The local municipality’s librarians also trained the teachers and students on how to set up a library book system.
School principal Levy Motsepe wholeheartedly supported this initiative during National Book Week. “We must all play a role in achieving educational equality for our students and this is a great start. I look forward to the great things that will happen for students as a result of our new library,” he said. Nurse emphasised that it has been difficult to buy Afro-centric books and books by writers from marginalized backgrounds around the world.
“This is what our Fulbright experience is about – making connections with South Africans letting them learn things about us and America and taking some of the things they teach us, back home,” the duo agreed.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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