Library Part II
2023 Trip Blog #6
Written by Kathy Mutch
One of our dreams comes true today. We are opening Mageta Island public library. Children have prepared their recitals, music, and dances. The band is ready and speakers are tested. Tents are raised, chairs placed. Food is being prepared. Balloons and ribbons decorate. As the community gathers we see young and old talking together with excitement about this newly painted building they are eager to see inside. Never having had a library on the island I wonder what they imagine.
It has taken 4 years to get to this day. Four years ago we learned there were no libraries, not even in the schools. We applied and received a grant from the Ontario Primary Teachers Federation and donations from some very kind supporters to begin work. And work it took. Our international liaison, Ben Mware, guided the Beyond Limitations team through the negotiations for a memorandum of understanding with the government and local groups, built book shelves, repaired the building to be used and painted it. Books were ordered and delivered on time and with Beyond Limitations and Mikinduri Children of Hope teams together, we cleaned, sorted and arranged the books. We are all so excited for the community to see their new library.
But what to name this library? When considering this we knew we wanted to honour a person who is a mentor, teacher, role model, visionary, and community developer. Someone who is, unafraid to speak his/her mind, but who is kind and listens to each persons ideas and personal insight. It was an easy decision- Mageta Island library will be called the “Dr. Bernard Mware Library”. If it wasn’t for Ben we wouldn’t have learned of, nor visited Mageta Island. He is a visionary with patience. He builds dreams one brick at a time. We now are feeding not just bodies but minds.
