Help Namibian Youth-Support my 'Learning Centre Project'

I've really been enjoying my year of teaching. It's brought a lot of challenges, but more rewards than I can count. The teenagers at my school, Omungwelume Junior Secondary, may be culturally different but their hearts are essentially the same as teenagers at home--they are struggling to be noticed, to learn about the world around them and to remove themselves from poverty. You get the trouble-makers but you also get those students who you fall in love with and want to everything you can for them.

This is why I hope to create a small Learning Centre at my school-- with a few CD players and short stories on tape, encyclopoedias, dictionaries and other research material so students can actually do projects and practicing hearing proper English. Right now we have a small library, loaded with books which has been a huge hit this year, but is severely overcrowded (its the size of an overgrown closet). So I hope to move things around and create two learning spaces that teachers and students can use. I want a centre where teachers can bring in their learners to practice English, research a project or look up a word (we only have 5 dictionaries currently for the whole school).

A few good reasons for doing this:

-For Ndahafa (first photo), who after reading with me Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" found every hidden Dahl book in the library, and has moved through "James and the Giant Peach" and is on to "The BFG". When asked how "James" was she exclaimed, "Oh much nicer than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

-For Johannes (second photo, front left), who is child #13 in his family (the "last born") but who listens to everything I say and just absorbs it. I often find him secretly cleaning the library when I'm not around.
-For Toivo,(3rd photo,holding map on right) a grade 8 learner of brilliance, who really could be a doctor/lawyer/engineer, but who has such little access to things that challenge his mind (ie. no research books, computers, internet) that he is usually bored with school and displays that by acting up. He is also living in a child-headed family.

If you think these are reasons enough or want to learn more, please email me (chloe_faught@yahoo.ca) and cc Charis Faught (charis.faught@gmail.com) (I do not have regular email access) and we'll send you more information about the project and how you can donate online or by cheque through my organization World Teach--tax deductable. All monetary donations (preferred) must complete the "Donor Designation Form" that we will send you. Materials like posters and stories on CD can also be sent, if done soon. Email for mailing details.
Thank you for being such supportive friends and family this year!

Chloe & Chris