Construction Begins!
Construction of the third library is in the early stages. Excavations are being completed; on Monday we hope to start building the foundations.
The Mumuni Library, the third Lubuto Library in Zambia and the first in a rural area, will also be the largest. We know that the Nabukuyu community (comprising 22 Tonga villages led by 22 headmen and the Matantala Rural Integrated Development Enterprise) which will own the library, has high expectations and many plans for the use of the library by children, teenagers and adults. The community people and Matantala (our hosting organization) believe that the Mumuni Library will become the main centre for the whole community to meet and interact, and will also attract services and other economic activity to the adjacent area.
In our trips to the site and the surrounding area, we noticed that a Tonga homestead usually develops in a linear way: a main building at one end, across from it a group of other important buildings, and some smaller structure (often a kitchen or insaka) in the middle. A large tree is often included in the homestead's ground. As we have two very nice large indigenous trees on our site and given the anticipated high demand for the library services, we decided to add a fourth building. This building will be designed and equipped to serve the teenage population among the users of the Mumuni Library.
by Eleni Coromvli
