One Book One Community sent 1,189 books to Mabule, Botswana. Pictured sorting the books for packing are, from left, Marilyn Gillingham, Kim and Tammy Smith.

One Book One Community sends books to Botswana

NORWAY – The 2008 One Book One Community: Oxford Hills Reads program concluded with a wrap-up event for the African Library Project.

Many hands joined to pack 1,189 books in 16 boxes to send to the Mabule Primary School in Mabule, Botswana, under the auspices of the African Library Project, an organization sending books through community donations to build 100 libraries in Botswana in 2008.

The Oxford Hills Read books were donated through the efforts of patrons in the 12 participating libraries in the One Book One Community program as well as Hebron and Paris elementary schools, Boxberry School, the employees of Norway Savings Bank, the Girl Scouts and Waterford Elementary School.

Money to send the boxes of books to Mabule was collected through jars in the same locations as well as through the sale of T-shirts designed and produced by OHCHS seniors June Chaves and Lorraine Gedat.

It was a diverse gathering of many who had worked and traveled in Africa and included samplings of African music, food and information about programs there. Music was provided by Bernie, Paul, and Peter Vigna on the balafons.

Hilary Ware and Alison Whitney presented information about CHABHA, a project in South Africa and Ruwanda focused on health issues and AIDS.

Janet Littlefield showed a film about the orphanage that she founded in Chigamba, Malawi. Henry and Shirley Hamilton talked about a school project they worked with in Tchimbumga, Niger.