The Nima Maamobi Library

Friday and Saturday of this week I was at the Nima Maamobi Library. While the tro-tro ride to Nungua library was one and a half hours by tro-tro, the Nima Library is just across the street from the Guest House. It is the "small library" that sits in front of the Nima Learning Center, right on the edge of the Kanda Highway.

The Nima Library opened in 1998, only two years after the opening of the original library, the Kathy Knowles Library in the Osu neighborhood. While the building was under construction Kathy was introduced to Hannah by mutual friends. Kathy recognized that Hannah was the right person to head the new Nima Library and convinced her to accept the position. Hannah has been here ever since and tells me she loves her job; working with the kids, making changes in their lives, and also helping to strengthen the community. It was at this "little library," as it is now called, that so many of the community programs began-- the drumming group, the theatrical company, the choir, the football club, and even a bathing program.

In addition the above groups, the Nima Library has operated a food program since 1998, distributing lunch to kids from 1:30-2:00 p.m. daily. Someone in the neighborhood cooks the hot meals and delivers it to the Library. On Friday they served rice, eggs, and greens, it looked and smelled delicious. The Nima Library also holds literacy classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and receive an average of 20-25 students broken into three-four groups based on reading level.

One really beautiful thing about this library is the landscaping and gardens created by Samuel, groundskeeper and security person. He has done a wonderful job in creating a green refuge literally inches from the busy and noisy Kanda Highway.

Photos: Upper right, The Nima Maamobi Library and grounds; Upper left, some of the staff and service workers at Nima Library: Emma, Samuel, Mohammad, and Kate; and Right, one of the artists with self-portrait for the "Lets Hold Hands" project.