tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19011104991356550362024-03-19T15:47:44.350-04:00Children of the Diaspora, United!We are <u>all</u> children of the African diaspora, united in the desire to change the world and help Africa.Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-15472458299656470302010-10-29T06:11:00.008-04:002010-10-29T07:33:27.799-04:00A Rose by Any Other Name....Yes, it has been a long time since posting here....but the work has never stopped! It has just had a change in management!Pictured here is the library in use!My student's club -- the InfoPros for Peace, at the International Community School of Abidjan -- have taken the project under their wing.Last year, they focused on developing the library -- collecting books, videos, games -- and on Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-29382103329135325202009-07-04T08:29:00.004-04:002009-08-01T13:54:31.650-04:00Bingerville UpdateWow! Time has flown! At the moment, I am back in the states, reflecting on this past year, and gearing up for the next, and I realize, it has been several months since my last report. So here is a summary, with pictures just added....Networking the Library at BingervilleAfter the Women's History Month event at Grand Bassam Orphanage for Girls, things went back to normal. I've continued working Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-73433266185578411782009-03-29T06:48:00.015-04:002009-03-29T17:34:07.268-04:00The Girls at Bassam Celebrate...and Get Some Great Gifts!Since the beginning of this journey, we've wanted to do something for the girls, too. If you've kept up with the blog, you'll remember that the students in NJ had determined to send them gifts for the holidays, like they did the boys last year, and they'd actually sent them off. However, and unfortunately, the gifts had been delayed in customs until late February.Well, after such a long wait, MmeChildren of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-13504542670240781892009-03-24T20:08:00.012-04:002009-03-29T17:15:17.586-04:00Of Library Catalogs and eLibrary Blogs... Where Hi-Tech Meets Tradition!So...new books have been added, and computers provided. What's next? A card catalog of course!If you are my age or older, you probably remember the old card catalogs -- those big wood cabinets with rows and rows of index card files, right? Well since then, all of those cards have been digitized, and entered into library automation systems.These allow you to search for books not only by subject, Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-37813704791480148102009-02-13T11:25:00.007-05:002009-02-19T03:34:45.384-05:00Feeling a Little Hungry? Here's Some Food for Thought!Hungry minds received a little nourishment recently, when the Parent Teacher Organization at the International Community School of Abidjan joined forces with the InfoPros for Peace club and other students, to provide more than 100,000 CFA ( about $200.00) worth of fiction and reference books to the Orphelinat de Garcons de Bingerville!The InfoPros for Peace Club and I launched the ongoing "Food Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-5179971668905105052009-02-13T11:16:00.007-05:002009-02-18T10:34:28.305-05:00Building an eLibrary at OGBA few weeks ago, we started working with a few students on building a blog for the school - an electric library of their own. What is an electric library or eLibrary, you ask? Well, it's a starting point for school work, research, finding answers, etc. Links for various services, such as an online catalog, research databases, and selected websites are added to your typical eLibrary to make it Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-87034966182179497362009-02-13T11:15:00.002-05:002009-02-13T11:23:28.032-05:00Coming Home....We had a visit from a friend a few weeks ago. He's Ivorian, too, and a professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology. He was a major contributor to the shipping of the computers last year, and wanted to visit the school while he was here on vacation.He was very happy to see the progress at the school and, of course, seeing the computer center up and in use was a special treat! He received Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-4120221372278120002009-01-06T16:23:00.006-05:002009-01-06T17:14:09.744-05:00Secret Santa Made it to Abidjan...But He's Stuck in Customs...Remember the French class students in New Jersey that orchestrated a Secret Santa delivery of gifts to the girls at the Grand Bassam Orphanage? Well, here's an update.The gifts made it!! They arrived on December 24th!!!But...unfortunately, we've had some communication mix ups, and a snow storm in New York the night of departure and finally, we just missed the ball. Long story short, the Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-78729054174373287312008-12-07T20:06:00.006-05:002008-12-08T04:15:01.978-05:00Grand Opening of the Bingerville Computer Center!A few weeks ago, Bingerville hosted a Grand Opening of their new computer center, and I was invited to speak. It was the coolest thing!Since last I'd been there, another organization had been inspired to provide desks for the computers, and the center was really looking nice. They decorated the room, and put ribbons on the computers, made a plague, and we had a ribbon cutting ceremony. We even Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-29857735907545448222008-12-07T19:59:00.004-05:002008-12-08T07:35:13.445-05:00Secret Santa Hopes to Come to Grand Bassam!What do you know! Remember the students in the French class? The ones who got gifts to send to Bingerville last holiday season? Well, they want to do it again!The French teacher, Karen told me a couple of weeks ago that the students were all psyched about getting the girls some gifts this year, so they've started a campaign. They've got over 100 girls' names, and they are collecting gifts for Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-76592792203687254872008-10-02T15:57:00.007-04:002009-03-29T17:54:08.816-04:00InfoPros for Peace!Wow! It's been a long time since I've done an update - and yet so much has happened!First of all, we made our visit to Bingerville to check on the internet connection a couple of weeks ago. It ended up with a pretty large group, a mix of students and teachers at my current school library connection - the International Community School of Abidjan (ICSA) and the guys who helped out with Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-57404586609153184052008-09-05T11:27:00.007-04:002008-09-05T20:20:51.501-04:00We're Connected!Latest news! I received a call from the director at Bingerville to let me know that the internet connection has been installed! We're going to take a look next week, and plan for our next step -- among other things, a book drive for the library, an online library, and other online resources for students. October is International School Libraries Month, and we've got to do something special!I haveChildren of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-29556157118240527672008-07-31T20:01:00.010-04:002008-12-09T02:51:42.754-05:00Networking in BingervilleWe had visitors with us today! And we got our first taste of what the future holds.For the networking phase of the project, Thierry of TPIOT Interactive Media brought in his team of interns, and a specialist -- Henri -- who volunteered a day to lead -- and teach -- the interns about the art of laying wires and setting up a network.Our goal was to bring the room to readiness for internet Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-28696161934973560392008-07-23T13:44:00.011-04:002008-12-09T02:51:44.122-05:00L'incroyable est croyable! The Impossible IS possible!OK... a lot of people didn't believe...a lot thought it impossible. A lot thought they will never make it there safely....but look what did happen...This was the future computer room in October, when I first visited. It was but a dream. But inspired, we determined to make the dream a reality.After many months of hopes raised and dashed, then raised and dashed again, lots of hard work, lots of "Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-52937487579385064712008-07-10T19:36:00.010-04:002008-12-09T02:51:44.547-05:00Meanwhile...Now that the computers are safely on their way (see last post), I am about to get on board too. I finally leave for CI this weekend, and I am ready to go! I can't wait...hubby has been back and forth over the last couple of years, and I can't wait to see himm and try living in a new country - at least for this year... In addition, I had a great conversation with the newly appointed director of anChildren of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-83052305631987460782008-07-02T18:19:00.008-04:002008-12-09T02:51:44.722-05:00Back in Gear! And On Our Way!!Whew! Communications breakdowns left me biting my nails, for a time, but finally, breakthrough! Turns out everything was ready and waiting, and after a few more phone calls, lots of negotiations, etc., we are finally on our way! Our shippment of 10 computers is now in the hands of our shipping agency! At long last! That's Vincent and Ifi, a sweet and funny team who put our order together, Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-30090987623052598192008-06-27T23:13:00.011-04:002008-12-09T02:51:44.895-05:00Stalled!!Regret to report that we are at a stand still. The systems are ready but they haven't yet been packaged. Graduation just happened, and so I fear they've fallen by the wayside - but I haven't been able to reach responsible parties so I am at a loss. Suddenly, they're have been lots of photo-ops in recent weeks, and talk of press releases and news stories, etc. - but to date -- as far as I know --Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-2297722531455955012008-05-24T03:11:00.014-04:002008-12-09T02:51:46.840-05:00Computers are Ready to Go!I went over to meet the young men who worked on refurbishing the computers for the Bingerville school. I got a look at our computers had the chance to learn a little bit about them.
They are all only about 16 or 17 years old!They are students in one of our alternate education programs called AACT or Academy of Architectural and Contemporary Themes
The one in the blue, Jonathon, is the leader on Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-25324147668605407992008-05-21T01:22:00.009-04:002008-12-09T02:51:47.033-05:00Library Resource Services Can Offer a Helping HandEvery librarian knows this company. Follett Library Resources. It's one of the services we use to order our books, videos, electronic resources, etc.We use them because they offer good discounts, and because its one stop shopping - everything you need, search-able by all kinds of things, including how many reviews an item has had, and the reading level. Plus they will do the cataloging for you. Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-59499775001928451962008-05-21T01:03:00.005-04:002008-12-09T02:51:47.188-05:00Ivorians Reaching Back Across the Waters...Over the past few months, there have been many conversations and meetings and long telephone calls, talking about the needs of these children in Bingerville, and elsewhere in the country.One thing that everyone agreed on, though, was that these children come from every one's home town. The entire nation is represented in these small faces.With this in mind, several of the local Ivorian Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-27778107658750103072008-05-19T22:33:00.008-04:002008-12-09T02:51:47.349-05:00Progress! Bingerville to Receive 10 Computers!Finally, it's official! The Bingerville Library and Computer Information Center is on its way!While the blog spot has been as quiet as our before picture at the Bingerville Library, there's been lots of activity behind the scenes.Today , I can finally state with certainty that our school will be providing computers to Bingerville. In a recently announced school news posting they explain how:"HighChildren of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-42894642555597140302008-03-11T00:35:00.013-04:002008-12-09T02:51:48.237-05:00Trumpet's Women's Day Success!Celebrating What One Woman Can Do!, one woman at a time, at Trumpet's! Photos Absolutely by COURTESY of John Meixner. Thanks ,John!What a fab event! So much fun! Such interesting people! Learned tons...AND presented the PPT about our cause! Congratulations, to Trumpet's owner, Kristine Massari, and to Caryl Lucas , as well, who both presented, AND was Master of Ceremonies -- and brought it all Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-75835188233801780432008-02-21T21:47:00.007-05:002008-12-09T02:51:48.358-05:00Trumpet's Presents "What One Woman Can Do!" Sunday March 2ndWomen's History Month begins soon and to get it started off right, Kristine at Trumpet's is hosting her second annual Women's Luncheon, entitled What One Woman Can Do!, a fitting title in these times. Lucky for me, she's including Children of the Diaspora, United! in her program. I'll share a little bit about the organization and our plans to help update the library with books, videos and Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-70514181976799663312008-02-06T12:37:00.009-05:002008-12-09T02:51:48.736-05:00Merci Beaucoup!Black History Month started out great for the kids at my school! On February 7th, we received our first batch of "Thank You!" letters from the students at the Bingerville School for Boys!Each of the students wrote a brief letter addressed to the student or teacher who sent them their gift. I posted some of them on my office door so that students could see them.My friend and colleague Karen, the Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1901110499135655036.post-2215100533109720142008-01-14T10:50:00.000-05:002008-12-09T02:51:49.050-05:00Santa Arrives in Bingerville!!You can see the excitement on their faces! And on those of our Cote d'Ivoire contacts, the Director of the school, Madam Philomene Kone-Houenou, School Social Worker Max David Koni and Yves Piot, President of F.A.W.A.N..It all started when students and other young philanthropists from the Hudson and Essex County areas chose names from a bag, so that each Bingerville student had a personal Secret Children of the Diaspora Unitedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809970099791666920noreply@blogger.com0