Library for 5000 Moroccan Berbers

Updates from the Field:

Updates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

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Index of Updates from the Field

New Project Website

By Cloe Medina Erickson - Project Manager, June 20, 2008 07:30 PM

Please visit the new project website and blog for the most up-to-date information and project status.

The most recent information added to the website is a copy of the As-Built Drawings from the Spring '08 Site Assessment Trip.

Enjoy and visit often!

Links:

Project Website & Blog

Spring 08 Site Assessment

By Cloe Medina Erickson - Project Manager, May 27, 2008 06:40 PM

Project Manager Cloe Medina Erickson and Architectural Consultant Todd Smith recently returned from an inspirational and productive visit to the project site in Zawiya Ahansal, Morocco.
Cloe and Todd worked with local Project Manager Youssef Jini to accomplish the following goals:
   Perform a full site and building assessment.
   Document the building in drawings and photographs.
   Finalize building and site ownership paperwork with the Moroccan government.
   Finalize partnership and responsibility agreement with locals.
   Prepare for utility installation and initial stages of construction.
In addition, Cloe traveled to the capital city of Rabat for a meeting at the Moroccan National Library. The library has agreed to gift books to the project including books in Arabic and French and ranging in topic from school textbooks to adult. They have also agreed to help with importation of books from the United States and France, and to mentor the locals on the establishment of the library.
Accomplishments to Date
   Donation of property and building for the restoration & establishment of the library.
   Project approval from locals - private, public and government.
   Local volunteer labor force in place.
   Book drive leaders in Morocco, France and the United States.
   Detailed site and building assessments. Document to be completed June 2008.
Summer/Fall 2008 Next Steps
   Fund raising.
   Utility installation on site.
   Restoration design.

Links:

Visit the new project blog.

Attachments:

Article and video about project region.

By Cloe Medina Erickson - Project Manager, March 12, 2008 06:48 PM

An article and video about the project region has just been posted to Saudi Aramco World Magazine's website. The article focuses on the growing impact and change which is occurring due to tourism and outside influence.

Links:

Saudi Aramco World article and video.

Library restoration begins.

By Cloe Medina Erickson - Project Manager, February 07, 2008 04:13 PM

Because of the generous donations received through GlobalGiving’s partnership with Erickson Creative Group initial restoration of the Kasbah, which will house the regional library, is beginning! In April, I will travel to the village of Amzrai with an architectural consultant in order to complete a detailed assessment and documentation of the Kasbah’s current structural state. These drawings will be the base documents for the design, restoration and budget. In addition, we will work directly with locals who are donating their time, to complete a thorough cleaning of the 300-year-old structure. These individuals are committed to the establishment of the library and are passionately dedicated to providing education to the region’s women and children.
Public involvement including parents, students and local governments is essential to sustainable education reform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Morocco ranks lowest among the countries of the MENA region in terms of access, efficiency, gender disparity and quality of education according to a recent World Bank report. An executive summary of the report is available here: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTMENA/Resources/EDU_Summary_ENG.pdf.
One-half of Morocco’s population remains illiterate and with over 60% of the population under the age of 30, public access to reading materials is an essential component to quality education in remote regions. This project has already made a difference in the locals’ moral and aspirations for their children’s future.

Links:

World Bank MENA Education Reform Report

Attachments:

Local inspiration fuels project expansion.

By Cloe Medina Erickson - Project Manager, October 18, 2007 05:56 PM

Numerous developments have arisen during the last month as a result of Moroccan locals' commitment and excitement for this partnership with Erickson Creative Group. The village of Amzrai has donated land and their historic Kasbah to the project for restoration and location of the regional library. In addition, 24 families from the village have committed to donating labor for the construction and one family has promised to provide volunteer librarians.
Also, three neighboring villages have become interested in the project and have requested libraries in their villages. Families in these villages have already committed to donating land and/or buildings for the libraries.
The local effort is making this a very widespread success and will result in over 5000 children and adults having access to reading materials.
Having a library in each village, rather than one for the entire region, will provide access to reading materials to women and girls; a development that was requested by the locals.