January - February 2003

SCBWI Helps Build Gambian Library

The remote Gambian village of Sari Sofi now has a library at its school as well as a small collection of children’s books, thanks to the work of Peace Corps volunteer, Bryn Mooser, son of SCBWI President Stephen Mooser. The library, which serves nine neighboring villages as well as Sari Sofi is in a hut reconditioned by Bryn and others and stocked with a box of books from the SCBWI. The books are the first real books ever in the village, where the children, primarily speakers of Mandinka, are also learning English. In a moving dedication ceremony in October, the headmaster of the 200-pupil school and the village chief thanked the SCBWI for bringing the gift of literacy to Sari Sofi. The school has no running water or electricity and lacks most of the amenities that many pupils around the world take for granted, but it is filled with students eager to learn. Thanks to Bryn and the SCBWI, the learning will now be a little easier.

Over the course of the year the SCBWI primarily helps Save The Children build libraries in the American Southwest and also sends books to a few schools in particular need. If you wish to help stock the SCBWI-Sari Sofi Library, send books in good condition to: Shelby Tarutis, 17043 - 2nd Ave. NW, Shoreline, WA 98177-3605.