"Right now we are a school in isolation,"
said Themba Mdletshe, principal of Manzibomvu. "Around here we don't have
industry, we don't have firms, we don’t have anything."Forcibly relocated
to this remote part of the country during the years of apartheid, these
villagers rely on subsistence farming for their food. The nearest town,
Hluhluwe, is approximately 100 kilometers away, and the closest settlement
is little more than a boarding house for tourists visiting the coast and
vendors lining the road selling everything from food they have raised to
crafts they have made.
The school is still several kilometers of deep sand and thick bush away
from this settlement, known as Mbazwana. Directions to the school are futile,
as only locals are capable of navigating the intricate maze of sand paths
connecting the small hut homes scattered throughout the bush. Students
walk, some barefoot, as far as 10 kilometers to and from the school.
Because the local economy depends heavily upon tourism, local villagers are known for their elaborate weaving and carving. Most locals are unemployed, but the few that are have jobs work at the lodges that dot the coast. Electricity has not yet reached this remote location, and there are no bookstores or other media resources in the area. The extreme isolation makes the library's role crucial in disseminating information to this community.
"The role of the library is essential," Mdletshe said. "We are in sort of a corner of the country here. We do not know what is happening in the outside world. When we get a library, we are exposed to what is happening in the outside world. When we get a library, we would be empowering our kids with the skills of looking for information for themselves."
The school is fortunate to have
such a dedicated and intelligent leader. When he became principal here
several years ago, there was not one qualified teacher at the school. Under
Mdletshe's leadership all of the school's teachers have gone back to school
to earn their teaching certificate. Refusing to let the many challenges
he and his school face, this principal always makes the best of the situation.
World
Library Partnership volunteers Dan and Judy Klement of Rockaway,
New Jersey are also helping make the most of the resources this community
has. Space and resources are limited here, so the school makes use of a
corner in a classroom for their library. Known as a library corner, this
is an effective use of limited space and materials. To deal with financial
constraints, Mdletshe said teachers have been encouraged to have a library
corner in every classroom.
The Klements taught teacher/librarian Duduzile N. Nkambule basic library skills and how to most effectively utilize minimal resources, a stated goal of the South African Department of Education in this particular school. Principal Mdletshe also utilizes the resources of his school by encouraging his students to write their own stories. "I would personally encourage the situation where treasures of the area, like the histories of this area are recorded by children themselves. They will value that in the future."
Taking advantage of the resources available
to them is vital since transportation to the school can be difficult if
not impossible. "Our schools really are deep, in some of the areas, inaccessible,"
Mdletshe said. "It's difficult to get things delivered to the school. These
issues, they seem small, but they are very huge."
Through the World Library Partnership's
Book
Certificate Program, the school bought $500.00 worth of books and
supplies from African publishers. The school purchased mostly children's
books and educational posters. "My personal opinion is a top down approach
is not good," Mdletshe said in regards to selecting books for his school.
"Bottom up would be best, allowing the teachers themselves to determine
which books are relevant." In addition to paying for the materials,
the WLP ensured their delivery to the school.
Mdletshe understands the importance of parental and community involvement in his school. For example, through his urging, four classrooms have been fitted with security devices to detour theft. "It is useless, in our view, to put treasures like books in unbuttleguarded (unsecured) classroom where a high rate break-ins occur," Mdletshe said.
In addition to involving parents, Mdletshe encourages the community to utilize the school's resources. In so doing, community members gain a sense of ownership and are more likely to support the school and its library. "The school must not exist in isolation, Mdletshe said. "It must give fringe benefits to the people who are supporting it. I am open to challenges, and my door is always open. This is school is theirs. It's not my school. It’s our school."