Why we send books written in English

A fraction of the books we have shipped to the Teacher
Resource Centre in Kahama. 

Although there are around 125 languages spoken in Tanzania, the country officially operates under a bilingual system. While Kiswahili is the language of instruction in primary school, students are required to read and write in English to complete their secondary school education. English is the dominant global language of communication, business, diplomacy, entertainment and the internet, and understandably, the Tanzanian Government wants to level the playing field.

There are problems with this bilingual system – the difficulties that children face switching from Kiswahili to English at Secondary school for example, especially in rural areas like Kahama where the teachers and children do not hear English spoken or have access to English books. We are taking steps to ease the transition. Just by visiting the area each year and conversing with officials and families in English we are making a difference.  In 2012 we ran a week-long English workshop for teachers and will do so again in 2015 or 2016.

We will be sending our current shipping container this year and one more in 2016; the Teacher Resource Centres will then have a wide selection of library and text books.

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation contact me , mail to The One Person Project, 10108 Julia Street, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z5  donate on-line or make a payment into our account at the Summerland Credit Union (Summerland, British Columbia).  

               Strengthen one person - strengthen the family - strengthen the community.

Cogratulations Rylan - Top 40 under 40 Award!

Congratulations to Rylan,(right) One Person 2010 Vice President.
www.theonepersonproject.org 

Rylan is a remarkable young man who took the 2010 (self-funded) trip to E. Africa and personally raised over $12,000 throughout the year. His dream was to send a library to Africa and to that end he helped to solicit book donations and joined us in raising the funds to ship the container, which was also filled with medical, educational, entrepreneur and family resources.

We sent over 16,000 books to Rwanda to create library shelves in the village schools. Rylan continues to support us at a personal level and through his business, Coffee News.

Follow the link to read more about Rylan. http://jcipenticton.com/top-40-under-40-december-4th-rylan-hernberg/ 

The 2010 Container arrives in Rwanda

Anitha and Yves thank the BC community
Our container was received by Go Rwanda on behalf of the people of Muhanga

On the first few trips to East Africa we took bulging suitcases filled with items from our communities, which made a significant difference to families, clinics and schools. And then in 2009 we purchased the 40' container and placed it in the Penticton (BC) Wal-Mart parking lot and held open days for donations of books, medical equipment, sports equipment and sewing machines - and the 2010 team still took numerous bulging suitcases!

In addition 67 vulnerable families received bins filled with appropriate household items - such as containers for carrying water, wind-up flashlights, pots and pans suitable for using on an open fire and small toys and school supplies.

We are no longer sending 'family' bins but wanted to give people in B.C. the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of the most vulnerable families in Muhanga.



Find out what we need to fill our next containers. Or make a donation towards the shipping.

The Muhanga Shipping Container (2010)

www.theonepersonproject.org 

In a fortunate case of synchronicity we were talking about shipping resources to our sponsor community when a young entrepreneur, Rylan Hernberg contacted us to see if we would be interested in helping him to fulfill his goal of sending a library to Africa. 

The original plan of shipping the container to Kahama, Tanzania changed when the the container was still at sea as the paperwork wasn't completed at the other end; we had to reroute to our second community in Rwanda. Unfortunately the container was then held at customs for weeks and we were at risk of loosing the whole shipment. Fortunately we were able to arrange the sale of the empty forty-foot crate to help cover the extra costs. This meant that we were not able to use the container as a library in itself but books were distributed to schools in Muhanga and surrounding villages. Multiple libraries instead of one!

Rylan brought in $12,000 of donations and supported us as we raised the remainder. He took part in our 2010 volunteer trip and met the container in Rwanda, though the delay in customs meant that the team were not present for the unloading and distribution. 

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Lana Corbett and Student Works Painting, created this beautiful mural. We held open days for the public to come and drop off books, sports and educational supplies, medical resources and sewing machines. 

Our idea is for one community to help another - at all levels, and the Muhanga container was a perfect opportunity to see this ideal in action.

Teachers and students supported education by donating items or raising funds; the medical profession, pharmacists and local service groups supported the medical aspects, and sports associations such as SOYSA gave time and donations to supporting sports for children. And many, many families and individuals came along to donate items, time and funds. The One Person committee members and an awesome team of volunteers spent numerous hours sorting and packing the donated items, which included 16,000 books - we probably received around 30,000 but many weren’t suitable. We have learned to be more discerning in our requests! By raising just $20,000 to purchase and ship a container we can sends hundreds and thousands of dollars of self-sustaining aid. Isn't that amazing?

Maureen B. and family worked tirelessly filling their own tubs of donated gifts and resources
and encouraging friends and family to do the same.
Maureen hauled six totes to the shipping container!

Find out what we need to fill our next containers. Or make a donation towards the shipping.

Thank you!