At the WCO we believe that all children have the right to education above and beyond just the basic levels to survive. That’s why we focus on building libraries in poor and remote communities.
Libraries offer children the chance to expound upon their abilities, and to study and develop at their own rate. They also allow them to find out more about other cultures and ways of life by reading about other countries and people.
Libraries hold a wealth of opportunity for children, and many poverty-ridden towns have no access to these sorts of facilities, meaning that both adults and children are neglected of the chance to help themselves.
Building a library in a needy town requires many things, including:
- Materials for construction of the building
- Educational books
- Recreational books
- Educational posters
- Audio books
- Visual materials for the deaf
- Braille materials for the blind
- Special needs materials
- Computers
- Computer literacy programmes and software
Education is vital to a child’s growth and development. But this education has to extend past just that of basic literacy. Recreational learning and social development needs to be focused on as well, as do special needs for underprivileged children.
The WCO also believes in creating equal opportunity learning for disadvantaged children. We feel that it is vital that children suffering from blindness, deafness, or other special needs shouldn’t be left behind. It is our sincere hope that we can help to educate children in all circumstances. After all, no child deserves to be left behind.
Children are the seeds of our future, and their education is paramount to the success of our world. Building libraries has numerous positive connotations within rural and poor communities, such as:
Social Interaction
Children need time to learn how to socialise with other people in their community. Libraries offer children the chance to communicate via the written and spoken word, in addition to using other mediums such as art, computer technology, and visual methods of communication.
The WCO is passionate about teaching children how to express themselves, as this is how communities learn about diplomacy. This in turn helps to cut violence down in many towns, as it prevents misunderstandings from occurring. Violence is borne through misinterpretation and the inability to effectively communicate. By providing libraries, the WCO hope to teach children – and adults – how to communicate in a clear, compassionate, and intelligent way.
Education
It almost goes without saying that education is the primary reason why the WCO builds libraries in poor communities. By teaching children how to look after themselves, how to increase their chances of getting good jobs when they leave school, and how to make the most of their communities, the WCO hopes to help break the cycle of poverty which is prevalent in many countries.
In addition to this, libraries give children the opportunity to build on the skills that they have learnt at school. At their own pace and level of interest, children can pursue both educational and recreational activities that will help them to develop into productive adults.
Routine
Perhaps one of the few things that people remember about libraries is their vital importance in providing routine for children. Good libraries offer a familiar, comfortable atmosphere, which is conducive to learning and education.
Playgroups, reading circles, and activity clubs can be organised inside libraries in order to provide regular social interaction and mental stimulation for children. At the WCO we believe that all children should experience the joy of attending communities groups, as this builds a sense of comradeship and community spirit.
Trust
Libraries are also a key tool in a community’s arsenal when attempting to build trust in their town. The concept of borrowing books to take home is a simple one, but it is one that provides a definite lesson in trust and responsibility. Even the small responsibility of taking care of a book and returning it in good condition and in a timely fashion helps to instil a sense of accountability in children, and this is a fundamental element of their development
Community Spirit
Libraries are invaluable to a strong society, as they provide a place where people can gather and congregate, voice their opinions, research their world, and meet other like-minded people.
At the WCO we believe that not only should this opportunity exist for children, but it should exist for adults too. After all, a child will become an adult one day, and it is important that they learn how to relate to their peers, elders, and – one day – the children of their own.
Children deserve to have the best start in life, and that’s why the WCO work hard to provide as many avenues for potential success for children that we can. The libraries we build enable children to strive for a better future, and to reach for something higher than just the basics of what life has to offer. It is simply one more way of helping them get the life they deserve.
At the WCO we believe that the community looking for help should become involved in each and every project in their town. That’s why we ask for the communities to come up with half of the resources, and we will contribute the rest. It is important that villages get involved, as they need to show that they care about child education and that they want to help change their future. For any town interested in a contribution from the WCO, please fill in the form below:
Initial Application Form – Help from the WCO
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| Contact Address |
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| Contact Telephone Number |
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| Contact Email Address |
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| Name of town |
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| Why do you want the WCO to help your town? |
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| What are you able and willing to contribute to the improvement of your town? |
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