Creating The First Branch - The SHARE Story

The McNamara Family arrives at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda on July 31^st, 2008,
with 500+ pounds of donations for the first SHARE branch.
(1200 children’s books, 20 games, 170 learning CDs, 1 laptop computer)

Smart Baitani of COSAD introduces Shannon and her vision for SHARE to the Bukoba community at
COSAD Headquarters in Bukoba, Tanzania, on August 1, 2008.

Smart introduces Shannon and the SHARE program to government officials, the Kiteyagwa Primary school administration, and 625 students on August 4, 2008.

This is the SHARE room before the renovations begin.  There are no window panes, the classroom is
not secure (no real door, no lock), and the room needs to be cleaned, sanded, and painted.

The following photos show the GCN (Global Citizen’s Network) crew working with the
local community to renovate the classroom.

Bukoba does not have bookshelves for sale, so we visited the local carpenters in the area to have one custom-made for SHARE. We designed a six-foot by six-foot bookcase, and agreed upon a price of 123,000 TZS
(Tanzanian Shillings) which amounts to $100. Six carpenters started working the minute we shook hands
on the deal and SHARE had a beautiful, hand-made bookshelf finished that afternoon!

Smart suggested that SHARE should have a sign on the main road and at the school. We visited the locals at
Zam Zam Workshop and they were able to take the SHARE icon used on the SHARE book labels, create
a template, and then paint the signs. We think they do beautiful work.

Smart, Shannon, Karen, and GNC volunteers Sean, Ronn and Deb had a meeting on August 8th with Ms. Justina, the headmistress of the Kiteyagwa Primary School to discuss SHARE. The mission of SHARE was discussed and we asked for her help. Ms. Justina eventually agreed to an after-school reading program for girls, but was concerned that the parents might not give their approval. “We must get the parents to agree with the program.” Justina explained that some parents would rather have their daughters home to work on household chores and help in the fields.

On August 11th Justina and Shannon had 3 parent meetings to explain to the
parents the importance of educating girls.

Shannon demonstrated how the computer games worked.
The parents were in awe.
 

Some parents chose not to register their daughters, but most did.
 

One mother, with a baby on her back, approached Shannon and said in broken English “Thank you for helping my daughter.” Her approval meant so much to us.
We were honored when she agreed to pose for a photo with Shannon
under the classroom SHARE sign.

The first SHARE branch is launched on
August 5th with 23 girls! Shannon opens
the program by making introductions.
 

Tabitha translates what Shannon says into Swahili. Tabitha is university educated and teaches at a local secondary school where SHARE is planning to open up the 2nd branch. Cassian is working on the donated laptop to put an inventory and control system in place. Cassian is a university student and Smart’s younger brother. The bookshelf houses the donated books, games, and software.
 

Shannon and Tabitha discuss the rules. Given the scarcity of books in Bukoba, Tanzania, handling books is generally an alien concept. SHARE strives to instill the culture of reading by giving girls access to books, therefore encouraging literacy and helping support school studies.
 

The next two hours were spent READING!
The girls were encouraged to take a break outside but each declined – too immersed in reading.

To see the joy on the faces of the girls who have rarely held a book before and to realize that these books are giving hope to a new generation of girls who might be otherwise left behind as the world moves forward……
this is why no photos were taken – everyone was captured in the moment.

The SHARE girls, Tabitha, and Shannon. Each is holding up their cherished gift, a pencil.