Here is the Library/Resource Center in Ghana workspace which is much like a wiki style page like Wikipedia, and great for team/group/member collaboration.

I am posting the beginning plan for us to get started as we developed our ideas at the GROW conference. Homowo African Arts & Cultures Library- Resource Center in Ghana

6 Month Goals

EXPLORE Library research Organizational strategy

Mission Creep

Ghanaian bureaucracy Develop the team Learn the chieftain’s motives Look at models

VALIDATE Local expert “sniff test” Peace Corps veterans on feasibility

Develop the “why” Develop the plan in phases

PLAN Project plan

Acquire land Book acquisition

Funding Staffing Tangible goals

Committee: Local Expert- Librarian with international experience- Peace Corps experience- Organizational development- Michael Howard Fundraiser- Grantwriter- Real estate- Logistics- At large-

In addition, we received the following message from the GROW organizers: For all of the nonprofit organizations, please submit your project plan summary (not to exceed 3 pages) to me by Feb 25th. The key is to document your measurable goals, specific steps to achieve to goals & timeframe. We will use this document as the benchmark from which to evaluate your progress. We will be setting up 1 hour meetings with all the nonprofit organizations during the 1st and 2nd week of August; so that you may have an opportunity to report on your progress to date (I will send details on the specific report out format later to presentation date). Then we will have a grant ceremony/reception during the last week of august.

so, we need to take our original outline and put it in the format listed above. I encourage everyone to work on it here since that way we are all working together.

Room to Read has built over 3,600 libraries in the developing world since their inception in 2000. They don't work in Ghana, and "opening new countrie" is a major ordeal for them. But, here is a document they have for people and organizations wishing to look into best practices they've learned over the last 8 years.

Mark Grimes said:

A discussion thread for online planning the building of a library and resource center in Ghana.

This is an important project which will help the Sowotuo community and other nearby communities too.I have stayed in this rapid developed community and I know very well that this project will help the people of sowotuo and people across the country can tour in this HOMOWO lIBRARY Project. Samson Akweson

I wonder whether there is an opportunity to use the Peace Tiles project in a creative way: each tile represents a "cinder block" built on the theme, "Yes we can" or something (to plagiarize from presidential campaign and children's show ;)

Seriously though: a tile-a-thon that seeks to get X number of tiles produced for sponsorships. Funds go to support your development efforts. The tiles themselves could become the basis of some kind of exchange or mural swap - tied to a 'grand opening' or something...?

Just an idea - could be fun and productive, tying in to literacy, culture, and related ideas...

Samson Akweson said:

This is an important project which will help the Sowotuo community and other nearby communities too.I have stayed in this rapid developed community and I know very well that this project will help the people of sowotuo and people across the country can tour in this HOMOWO lIBRARY Project. Samson Akweson

do you think the residents of the area would be interested in actually physically working on the project? My sense is that we would need to provide classes to help people use the facilities- books and the computers. Is that your impression too? Susan

Lars Hasselblad Torres said:

I wonder whether there is an opportunity to use the Peace Tiles project in a creative way: each tile represents a "cinder block" built on the theme, "Yes we can" or something (to plagiarize from presidential campaign and children's show ;)

Seriously though: a tile-a-thon that seeks to get X number of tiles produced for sponsorships. Funds go to support your development efforts. The tiles themselves could become the basis of some kind of exchange or mural swap - tied to a 'grand opening' or something...?

Just an idea - could be fun and productive, tying in to literacy, culture, and related ideas...

Lars, This is a very interesting idea- especially to get started. Taking it one block at a time seems like the best way to make it affordable. Is there a model I can access to see how this has been done? Susan

hi susan,

i don't have a model; its something i think can't work based on how i've seen people respond to the peace tiles project thus far. here is what i could envision:

1 - begin with portland. reach out to your friends and organizational partners with a proposal to host a "tile-a-thon" on a certain date. the purpose is to raise funds , build visibility, and create bonds between oregonians and your community space in ghana.

2 - get community sponsors to donate the materials - 8" square wood tiles, paint, brushes, etc. think of a theme to "sell" to them along with the pitch (raise funds for a community space in ghana through mass creativity) - perhaps a theme could be "Imagine Africa..."

3 - once details are nailed, get sign up sheets into the hands of participating students, community members, etc. their goal is to get community members to "sponsor" their art - $1, $2, maybe $5 or even $10 per tile. Set a goal for them for that day, for example each participant will make two tiles - one for portland and one for ghana - "sister murals."

anyway, each participant should get as many pledges as they can - say you get 50 participants getting 50 pledges each and the average pledge is $5 - that's not too bad: that's $12,500 in pledges for 100 individual works of art, 50 of which will remain in the community.

i think the trick might be to ensure some kind of "bounce back" - perhaps community members back in ghana could make some tiles to send to portland and they could be intermingled with the locally made ones to "show" the connection between the two communities.

anyway, once you have done one fundraiser, perhaps you can use the visuals captured through documentation to inspire other nedsters and people outside of portland in your network to host similar events on your behalf. you'll have the templates/knowledge/outreach materials in hand to make it pretty easy for them!

anyway, just an idea. i'd be happy to help if you have questions. i am sure mark could fill in the blanks too!

very best,

lars

This idea has potential. I'm going to think more and then get back about more of the details and making it work specifically for this project. Susan