2008 NORVA Funded Projects
Library Construction
School Radio Station
English Language Summer Camp
Library Construction - Benin
PCV: Rachel Miller
NORVA Contribution: $1,500
The library project is an initiative
started by members of the community. It was realized quickly through
speaking with students and staff at the secondary school that books
were a rarity, however essential to maximum classroom experience they
may be. Building this facility will provide the opportunity to students
who may not be able to afford textbooks. With an enrollment of approximately
700 students coming from as many as 30 kilometers away, this will affect
the surrounding communities as well. The community is largely a farming
community and as labor is expensive, children are required to help with
the family harvests. This drastically reduces the time they have to
attend classes regularly and as a result, one child from the whole family
may be chosen to go to school and succeed for the family. A team of
students will be chosen to manage the library, while being supervised
by a local organization and staff at the secondary school; thus empowering
people to become self-sustainable in their journey through life in a
developing country. By providing a tranquil environment to study and
the resources necessary to continue scholastic endeavors, this project
will aid in the progression of an entire community.
See pictures of library construction below:
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School Radio Station - Costa Rica
PCV: L Brancheau
NORVA Contribution: $500
The idea for a school radio station
came from a student at the local high school who wanted to apply what
he learned from a radio-programming course to start a student-run radio.
The high school is located in the Southern-Pacific region of Costa Rica.
The student body encompasses more than twenty-five communities and the
distance many students travel to attend classes has discouraged participation
in extra-curricular activities. The motivated youth presented his idea
to a high school teacher who agreed to be the project mentor. The high
school administration has approved the project, however its budget limits
the financial support it can provide. The youth was able to raise a
small amount from the student body, but it is insufficient to cover
the initial costs of the radio. This community is asking Partnership
Donors to support their efforts to purchase the equipment needed for
the radio. Parents, teachers, and technicians will set-up the radio,
the student will train his interested classmates in the basics of radio
programming, and the project mentor, along with the Peace Corps volunteer,
will teach the participants about group dynamics and business management.
These students can then train other students in order to expand the
capacity of the radio, and sustain the project as students leave the
academic institution. The high school radio station will provide the
students an outlet for creative expression during school hours while
gaining important skills in information technology, business management,
teamwork and goal setting.
English Language Summer Camp - Ukraine
PCV: E. Chaples
NORVA Contribution: $500
The main purpose of this project is
to enhance English language learning at the community’s annual summer
English camp school by providing resources and materials to be used
by the students and teachers.
Two years ago, the school designated two weeks in June for an English
Language Camp for 11 – 13 year old students and where the 15 – 16
year old students will volunteer as counsellors. Thus far, the project
has been limited in scope because parents must pay for textbooks and
other supplies for their children during the school year, the summer
camp comes as a last priority and does not generate as much interest
for donations. Therefore, teachers and camp counselors have little buying
power, and during the past two camps, have had to purchase the least
reliable materials and smallest amount of equipment.
This year, the teachers decided to extend the camp from two weeks to
three weeks. A grant will enable the school to buy better quality materials
for crafts, sports equipment, lunches of nutritional value for the students,
and contribute towards the cost of educational trips to nearby places
of interest.
The main objectives of the camp are to help students improve their English
language skills and to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, including
nutrition. An open house about the summer camp, including an informational
session, and a training seminar for those interested in implementing
a camp at their own school will be conducted for teachers from nearby
city schools.