Greenwell Matongo Community Library as Learning Environment for Children: Broadening Learning Environment and Providing Learning Support

Abstract

Vantaa, the fourth largest city in Finland, started cooperating with the city of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia in 2002. As a result of this cooperation a community library was established at Greenwell Matongo, an informal settlement area of Windhoek in 2005. The cooperation is a part of the North-South Local Authority Programme financed by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and administrated by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities. The civil servants of the two cities carry out the co-operation.

Over the years the Greenwell Matongo community library has become an important meeting place for the local people, especially schoolchildren and students. Today, Greenwell Matongo library is always full of students studying, reading books and newspapers, doing homework, using Internet, or attending life skills courses and other activities. The library has a reading room as well as a computer room with 23 computers. It provides regular computer courses, day camps for school children, story-telling hours and assistance with homework.

Children living in the densely populated Katutura and Khomasdal in Windhoek are mainly from households that are experiencing challenges of limited space, lack of electricity or limited access to electricity. The children live in areas where alcohol outlets, are playing loud music to attract customers. This environment affects the learning and studying abilities of the children and youth.

An example of success stories in the Greenwell Matongo...