Mohit Agrawal Ghana School Library Initiative. Ghana Today Ghana is a young yet strengthening...

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Mohit Agrawal

Ghana School Library

Initiative

Ghana Today

• Ghana is a young yet strengthening democracy.

• The economy is transitioning from natural resources-based to manufacturing and services.

Failure of Education

Our Project

• “To build a library and provide a computer lab at the Evangelical Presbyterian Basic School for the community of Ashaiman, Ghana.”

• UNESCO states that “The school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to functioning successfully in today's information and knowledge-based society. The school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens.”

Computer Network

• Our goal is for children to learn how to use a computer; we then hope that the children can use computers to learn.

• We have received a donation of 10 OLPC XO laptops, and we want to provide at least 30 computers.

• We have purchased an eGranary Digital Library, a 1TB harddrive that provides immediate, off-line access to many of the web’s best educational websites.

• We are working with Princeton professors to implement EdgeXL, a commercial system that reduces the bandwidth needed for internet access.

Economic Sustainability

• One advantage of pursuing a library project instead of a school is that a library can be economically self-sustained.

• Despite serving more people, operating costs are lower at a library than at a school.

• Revenue– Charging annual fees (<$5) for a family to be

allowed to borrow books; and– Offering computer classes to the public for set

Ashaiman

Ashaiman, Ghana

• Migrant worker squatter settlement, begun in 1952– Tema was being developed as an industrial

hub– Temporary shacks became permanent– Lack of urban planning and infrastructure

• Rapid growth– Population in 1960: 2,624– Population in 2000 (census): 150,312– Population in 2000 (ASHMA): 217,717– 5% annual population increase

Evangelical Presbyterian Basic School

• Run by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

• Children are from all faiths and backgrounds.

• Primary and secondary school in Ashaiman:– K-9– 450 students total– 23 teachers– 13 classrooms– On the grid

Library Structure

Library Structure: Basics

• Throughout the design process, we prioritized sustainability:– Use pozzolana to substitute for 1/3rd of cement.– Use landcrete blocks for the infill walls.– Use design to cool the building passively.

• Goal of the library: create an inviting and hospitable environment where students and the local community can come together to learn.

Library Structure: Outside

Interior Design

Interior Design: Basics

• An innovative interior design will make the library more effective.

• Goals for the interior design include:– Safe storage of the computers;– Librarian desk located so that she can monitor the

library;– Space for a class of up to 50 students to use the

library at the same time;– Space for community and parent meetings with up

to 100 people;– Tables at a variety of heights for shorter and taller

students;– Shelf space for 3,000 books.

Interior Design: Iso View

Interior Design: Top View

Summer Overview

1. Constructed the reinforced-concrete frame of the library structure;

2. Set up a temporary library with 1000 books shipped from Princeton. These books had been collected through a book drive and various donations during the spring semester;

3. Worked with a group of 3-6th graders to evaluate games and programs that could be run at the library.

Construction Photos

Construction

Other Photos

Temporary Library

Afterschool Workshop

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Mohit Agrawal Ghana School Library Initiative. Ghana Today Ghana is a young yet strengthening...

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