The Osu Library

There is a library in Osu, a part of Accra.  It serves the people in that area so they can access books and experience the joy of reading. Kathy Knowles started this library and many others in other areas in Ghana. I believe she said she has 9 libraries around the area.  She is a Canadian.  The library is her passion and she is in charge, but her husband is very supportive. She has local people she trusts run the libraries and she visits a couple of times a year to make sure everything is running smoothly. The library is constructed of three containers joined together on one side, that comprise the library, and storage area for new books that she sells and an office for Joanne, one of the librarians, and a  single shipping container on the other side, for another office for Enoch and storage space for kids supplies and games, and a breezeway in between, for a classroom.  A roof was built over it all to give it a homey look.

Senior Sister missionaries have, for several years, spent time  reading with locals, mostly kids. Before Covid there were more sisters that would visit more of the libraries and read to the kids or help adults learn to read. Those locals want to better their English knowledge and skills.  Kathy Knowles wants her librarians to improve their reading skills so she has asked the sister missionaries to come once a week and read with the librarians. The librarians choose a book and everyone takes a turn reading. We help each other understand what is being read and correct the pronunciation and explain the meanings of certain words and sentences. It goes both ways. Many times the book is about things that go on in Africa and the librarians help us understand the customs and pronunciation of their words.  It's good to do.  Elaine got started soon after our arrival in Ghana.  At first, she went there with Pauline Kacher and Kathy Kittelson, other sisters have come occasionally and now she is joined on certain days by Lisa Porter, Jeri Jacobs, Claudia and Grayson Bridge and most recently Jolynn Middleton who is planning to take over when we leave in a few weeks. Jolynn is in the same position as Kathy Kittelson was. Steve Kittelson was the Area Mental Health Advisor and David Middleton is the current advisor.  The wives need something good to do while their husbands are busy. 

There is an orphanage in another part of town called Jamestown.  These kids are part of a school in Jamestown. Some have parents but many are orphans. Those who don't have parents live together with some of the teachers. They would rescue these kids off the beach and make a home for them. They found a place they could use as a school and teach the kids in the area, orphaned, poor, Christian and Muslim. They get along very well.  Kathy Knowles decided the kids from the school needed benefit from a library so she arranged to have a "tro tro" pick them up and bring them to the library every Tuesday and Friday where the Senior Sister missionaries (and on rare occasions their husbands) teach the kids.  When the missionaries can't come the librarians take over. When Elaine is there she makes it fun and educational for the kids.  They will draw, dance, color, hear stories, eat things like apples or pizza that is part of the day's subject (like Johnny Appleseed and Italy, hence apples and pizza).  The kids get introduced to many things they wouldn't otherwise. Many times the teachers will ask for copies of what is taught so they can share it with the many kids who didn't get to come. 

Everyone enjoys the experience; the kids and adults.  There are employees who work there all week and they help the Senior Sisters by keeping the kids focused, handling supplies, interpreting when needed depending on the age of the kids.  In Jamestown they speak Ga and English.  The Senior Sisters speak English really well.

The back side of the library where the kids can sit on stools under the shade of big trees.

These are the bathrooms, behind the library.

A view from the front looking at the breezeway where Elaine is teaching the kids.  It was near Christmas time.   That's where the paper chains came from.

Some attentive boys.  Few of the kids have school uniforms like these boys have. They are hand me downs. If it fits, you get it. When you grow out of it, someone else gets it. Many of the uniforms are torn and pretty worn out, but the ones who get to wear them are happy.

A view from the back side of the breezeway.

The view from inside the yard in front.

The entrance to the library.

The "office" opposite the library portion.  The kids love stories.  They are very well behaved and listen intently.

More stories.

Richard the  assistant librarian and right now, hard worker.  Moving dirt around on the backside of the property. Some friends of ours gave some money to the library for improvements and Richard is working hard to make the place look amazing.

Elaine taught them how to draw a Santa in December.  Some of them are Muslim.  Everyone loves a holiday.  Everyone loves Santa.

A van or "tro tro" brings the kids from Jamestown every Tuesday and Friday.  You can get thirty to forty kids of various sizes in one of these.  Honestly.

We can get kids from 2 years to 15 years.  They try to group them by ability but we never know what age is going to show up. It is good to have something simple for the little guys who are just learning their letters and something a little more challenging for the older kids. 

 

The view from the street.

A view from the back at the water tanks and breezeway before the kids come.