Firstly, I want to apologize for not writing you sooner with the details of my project which you've been so helpful with. Secondly, I want to thank you! I greatly appreciate the money you collected / donated towards the cost of shipping the books.

The project is (going to be) a library and community learning center. It is located in the village of Ha Thaba, in Qacha's Nek, as one drives towards Sehlabathebe National Park. Ha Thaba is a central village in the area, and although it does not house a primary or secondary school - it is a 30 minute walk to both, in opposite directions, of one of the area's largest primary and secondary schools. In Ha Thaba, across from the library, there is an old trading store, which has been in operation since 1912. Many herd boys travel by foot, donkey, or horseback through the mountains and across the Senqu River - some as long as 9 hours - to reach this store. Because of the distance, many of the boys must sleep in the village before embarking on the long journey again.

It just so happened with synchronistic perfection, that two of the most amazing and determined Basotho live in this village - this in between schools, trading store, stop off hub of Qacha's Nek district - village.

We will have 9 bookshelves (5' x 3') and I'm expecting about 35 boxes of books sent from the USA. In addition there will be Lesotho / Basotho / Southern Africa specific books, as well as all the text books used in Lesotho's primary and secondary schools. There is a resource center - information on colleges and technical schools, as well as on how to find and write grant proposals.

There is also a children's section with educational and soft toys, puzzles & games, as well as a games/sports section. In the later area people can use educational board games in the library, as well as borrow sports equipment - volleyball, netball, soccer ball - to use on the nearby grounds. For a variety of reasons only the books will be used for borrowing (take away : home), the other equipment to be used during open hours.

The Center will also serve as a workshop facility for self-directed projects on literacy, AIDS, environmental awareness, youth development, etc. We are currently establishing a group to have a "reading time" circle and traditional village story telling for the village children.

We have a great sandstone building that was built in 1912 as part of the old trading store complex. It is enclosed with a fence and has a night time security guard - what a bonus! It's got great lighting - 2 windows that are 5' x 5' and two skylights.

We've finished painting the walls and ceiling, window trim and doors. The tiles are more than 3/4 laid and the last details of roof sealer are being set.

Basically, the "hardware" is completed! Last week we finished painting a colorful map of Africa, and when I return from my COS conference in September I'll begin the decorative painting - a theme hasn't yet enlightened me, but I'm sure it will come.

The FTC (Farmer's Training Center) in Qacha's Nek, under the guidance of PCV Eric - Carpenter Extraordinaire - Thomson will miraculously manifest my furniture sketches into furniture. I've contacted him for about 15 pieces - including shelves, tables, cabinets, and a sink table, etc . . . So basically we're now awaiting the anticipated arrival of books.

I received a grant for about R21,500 ($3,100) for building repairs, text books and Lesotho specific books, games and sports equipment from PC Washington's SPA fund.

The we - is myself and 2 Basotho, and a library committee of eleven individuals. In January I was fed up with Lesotho, ready to pack my bags and was trying to figure out how I could bribe an airporter to make a PC non-refundable ticket exchangeable for some traveling. I'd already written the letter I was going to send to my friends and family explaining why I had to leave and that I was not giving up, but rather surrendering to save my sanity.

Well, that was over eight months ago - eight months when I met two people who consequently changed the course of events and my disposition.

Two young men came to me upon hearing about a preschool building renovation project I was doing solely with the teacher. They told me they were the "Basotho Peace Corps"! They didn't want money, they only wanted to help us. "We have a school" (they had begun a village preschool of their own accord, not for money - because they weren't charging - but because of the need and their availability). "It's not much, but it's a lot better than yours . . . what do you want us to help with?" That began the creation of our preschool, endless hours of painting, cementing, hammering and cleaning.

Not once in the 2 months that they walked to this village every day after they were finished teaching did they ask me for anything - but to tell them about America, going to University, and for my Newsweeks.

When the preschool in my village was completed I told them - they after all were now the sole reason I was staying - (They defied everything that had worn me down in Lesotho - they were creative and independent thinkers, innovative, determined with vision, realistic, dedicated, motivated, thoughtful, and the list goes on . . .) so I told them I have a book of all the organizations that offer funding for community projects and said I'd work with them, teaching them to write a proposal.

The following day they came to me with five projects, outlined with each possible organization that could fund them . . . Well, we condensed the five into one project, filled out an SPA application, and now we're three months shy of the opening of the Ha Thaba Community Library and Learning Center.

If anyone is interested in donating books, they can be mailed (as I'm soon leaving) to:

Moleko Naha
St. Francis Mission
Box 159
Qacha's Nek, 600, Lesotho
Southern Africa

I've enclosed photos of my recent projects and will send some more of the library after I've finished the decorative painting, and again after it's completed and stocked. Thanks again for your support with this project and all of FOL's small projects.

Blessings,
Anais Alexander