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

fees.

Ashaiman

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

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

Construction

Construction

Construction

Construction

Construction

Construction

Construction

Construction

Construction

Other Photos

Temporary Library

Temporary Library

Temporary Library

Temporary Library

Afterschool Workshop

Afterschool Workshop

Afterschool Workshop

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