Project
To cover the cost of the salary including taxes and health insurance for a library receptionist for one year.
Needed
92,438/month x 12 months = 1,109,794 DJF (Djibouti Franc) = £4,863 (on 16th October 2019).
Task completed!
by 17th April 2020
Emmanuel English Language Centre (EELC)
The English school and library in Djibouti town has been operational since 1976. About 3,500 Djiboutians have learned English there since it was founded. That is an average of 88/year. The school has an excellent reputation and every year many more students apply than can be accepted.
How is it funded?
There are two sources of income, both from students – the main one is the school fees and secondly there is the library membership fees. If the school is offering four classes of 30 students each, the income is just enough to cover most expenses such as two salaries of local employees, the rent, electricity and water. Unfortunately, this year the team is smaller than usual so is able to offer only three classes and therefore does not have sufficient funds to pay for the receptionist who is an indispensable part of the project.
Last year a coffee lounge, with the help of a start-up donation of £775 and the team’s contributions, was opened on four mornings each week so people could come to practice their English. It was a huge success – every morning the lounge was full. This has continued – currently the lounge is packed and overflowing.
Who uses the Language Centre?
Mainly young Djiboutians between 18 and 25 years old.
One third are students and another third are in employment though that includes some older people. They need to learn English to be better able to complete their studies or fulfil their job responsibilities. Some already know English but study at EELC to improve their comprehension and speaking skills. The final third are unemployed but attend courses in the hope their new English skills will increase their work prospects.
Most start by attending one of the English classes that are held twice weekly. They then attend at other times to make use of the library. This provides a lending service and an up-to-date supply of English newspapers and magazines to read on site. About 370 attendances are made to the Centre each week.
In the last academic year (starting September 2018) 79 (69%) students completed the course out of 114 starting. Of those completing, four achieved top grades (over 90%) and 23 had grades between 80-90%. Impressive!
Who are the teachers?
Most teachers are native English speakers who come on short term contracts. They need to invest time in learning a local language and therefore are only able to teach one class each at first. That means the income generated varies from year to year according to the teachers’ experience.
How does the receptionist benefit the Centre?
At the heart of EELC is Abdo, the receptionist and security guard. His mother tongue is Afar but he also speaks fluent Somali, the most widely spoken language in Djibouti. He was schooled in French like most people in Djibouti, and he can speak Arabic which is the second official language. So, whoever enquires about English classes (and every day new people call in) he can talk to them in either their own language or in English. Abdo started work at EELC in 2013 and knows by name many of the students who have studied there over the years.
In his role as the receptionist, Abdo registers new library members and checks in and out the books being borrowed. He has a good overview of all the books in the library. When books are not returned within two weeks, Abdo calls people to remind them to bring them back. Because the climate is very humid and dusty, new books are covered with transparent foil to keep them in good condition for longer. Abdo helps with that task as well as repairing books that are falling apart.
Occasionally he sells books from the small bookshop – English, Somali, Afar and Arabic books are available – but that is only about 2 books/week!
Abdo is also the security guard. He opens and closes the Library at the beginning and end of each day. As he mostly sits at the desk at the entrance he can ensure it is only library members who take away books. Sometimes there are disturbed or drunk people who try to enter and Abdo is very gifted in gently sending them away.
Abdo is very much appreciated by the students, library members and the staff. He is always ready to help with any task and contributes to a good working atmosphere with his gentle character. The team hope he will work with them for many more years but to ensure that, funds are needed to pay his salary this year as not enough is earned from student funds to cover the cost.
Helping to provide those funds has been a KT Task.
Kerith Trust 