Book Project (updated)
Everything is the same in this journal, except I have changed the address. This will allow me to have the books delivered to my town.
Please send it to my Shoumen address:
Mark Jackson
Obstina Shoumen
blv. "Slavanski" 17
Shoumen, 9700
Bulgaria
Hello All,
I would like to preface this entry with the following: This is not a demand or some kind of guilt trip being pressed upon you by your crazy Peace Corps friend/family member. So, do not feel any pressure, it is just an idea.
To give you an idea of what I am talking about, here is an article written, in our monthly newsletter, by some previous volunteers about a successful project they put together. I think we can make it work also.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT:
Book Party
------------------------------
We were asked to get hold of some books in the English language for the local library. At that time they had 3 children’s books, all of which were written and published in Bulgaria. There is a growing interest in studying and reading English in this town.
We wrote to some of our friends in the US and suggested that they have a ‘book party,’ and that each guest bring a book and a dollar for postage. We requested recent reference books (no more than 5 years old), classic literature was very much wanted, as well as children’s and youth books. The person who had the party (or collected books some other way) was responsible for sorting through some of the books and mailing them in M-bags – which cost about 89 cents per pound.
The response was over whelming. One person in University gave a movie party, with admission being a book and a dollar. Others had parties, others talked to used book stores and received contributions, and others just ‘cleaned out’ their personal libraries. The advantage to this method is that the cost and burden was spread out over many people, and was not hard on any individual.
After we received the books, we sorted through them some, but almost all were really appreciated. We received a donation of 100 dollars and in Sofia bought over 30 paperback copies of classics we had not received. We also put a label in each book (in Bulgarian) stating that this book is a gift from friends in the USA.
Last week we donated 750 books to the local library. We still think there are four more M-bags that are on the way.
I really think this will work. My town is equally in need of English materials as the other volunteer’s town. As for my twist on the project, I will be sorting out the gifts and, in addition to the library, be donating them to the appropriate level of school. I have contacts in every school – from kindergarten to high school.
From talking to the teachers, the library, and my site-mate (a teacher volunteer) and I have come up with a kind of wish list. Now, the real purpose of this list is to show you that almost ANYTHING would make a difference.
**Activities for the Language classroom – rebuses, crosswords, magic squares, puzzles, jigsaw puzzles.
**Classroom decorations – chalkboard borders, posters, maps, those alphabet things with the goofy cartoons
**Flash card games
**Cards – Alphabet cards – Animal cards – Four season cards
**Games for learning a second language – word games, grammar games
**Warming up activities for Language Teaching
**Communicative Activities for Language Teaching
**Pair work Activities
**Role plays in Language Learning
**Quick Activities for Students
**Visual Aids
**Songs
**Poems
**Stories
**Plays
**Tongue Twisters and Rhymes
**Books – Tales – Fairy Tales
**Teenage Books – Think: Hardy boys, Goosebumps, Boxcar children, et cetera…
**Practice in Grammar, Spelling, Handwriting
**Composition
**Dictionaries – Picture Dictionaries
**Projects / Group Projects
**Practice Tests
**Magazines
**American Customs and Traditions
**American Holidays
**Traditional American Dishes
**American Education
**Popular Film Stars and Singers
**Menus
**And, of course just plain books. Any level. Almost any kind.
So, think you want to do this??? Ok. Here are some more logistics.
What is an ‘M’-Bag?
The M-bags are provided by the US post office. And they are defined as ‘direct sacks of printed matter to a single addressee.’ They can be sent via Airmail (7 to 10 days delivery time) or Surface Mail (6 to 8 weeks delivery time). Surface delivery will save the greatest amount of money.
The items to be shipped must be packaged securely in boxes that will fit into a mail sack. Each box must be properly addressed to the delivery address as well as having a return address. In the upper right hand corner where the postage normally would be affixed must be the words (Postage Paid By M-Bag). Properly filled in customs forms and M-bag labels must be affixed to each sack. Postage is calculated by weight and there is a minimum charge of 11 pounds per sack. A maximum weight of 66 pound applies for each sack.
Where do I send this M-Bag?
Please send it to my Shoumen address:
Mark Jackson
Obstina Shoumen
blv. "Slavanski" 17
Shoumen, 9700
Bulgaria
Well, I hope we can work something out. I know the schools and town will be very excited and thankful. And, obviously, do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions or need clarification.
Take care,
~~Mark
[Email to a Friend:
]
Please send it to my Shoumen address:
Mark Jackson
Obstina Shoumen
blv. "Slavanski" 17
Shoumen, 9700
Bulgaria
Hello All,
I would like to preface this entry with the following: This is not a demand or some kind of guilt trip being pressed upon you by your crazy Peace Corps friend/family member. So, do not feel any pressure, it is just an idea.
To give you an idea of what I am talking about, here is an article written, in our monthly newsletter, by some previous volunteers about a successful project they put together. I think we can make it work also.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT:
Book Party
------------------------------
We were asked to get hold of some books in the English language for the local library. At that time they had 3 children’s books, all of which were written and published in Bulgaria. There is a growing interest in studying and reading English in this town.
We wrote to some of our friends in the US and suggested that they have a ‘book party,’ and that each guest bring a book and a dollar for postage. We requested recent reference books (no more than 5 years old), classic literature was very much wanted, as well as children’s and youth books. The person who had the party (or collected books some other way) was responsible for sorting through some of the books and mailing them in M-bags – which cost about 89 cents per pound.
The response was over whelming. One person in University gave a movie party, with admission being a book and a dollar. Others had parties, others talked to used book stores and received contributions, and others just ‘cleaned out’ their personal libraries. The advantage to this method is that the cost and burden was spread out over many people, and was not hard on any individual.
After we received the books, we sorted through them some, but almost all were really appreciated. We received a donation of 100 dollars and in Sofia bought over 30 paperback copies of classics we had not received. We also put a label in each book (in Bulgarian) stating that this book is a gift from friends in the USA.
Last week we donated 750 books to the local library. We still think there are four more M-bags that are on the way.
I really think this will work. My town is equally in need of English materials as the other volunteer’s town. As for my twist on the project, I will be sorting out the gifts and, in addition to the library, be donating them to the appropriate level of school. I have contacts in every school – from kindergarten to high school.
From talking to the teachers, the library, and my site-mate (a teacher volunteer) and I have come up with a kind of wish list. Now, the real purpose of this list is to show you that almost ANYTHING would make a difference.
**Activities for the Language classroom – rebuses, crosswords, magic squares, puzzles, jigsaw puzzles.
**Classroom decorations – chalkboard borders, posters, maps, those alphabet things with the goofy cartoons
**Flash card games
**Cards – Alphabet cards – Animal cards – Four season cards
**Games for learning a second language – word games, grammar games
**Warming up activities for Language Teaching
**Communicative Activities for Language Teaching
**Pair work Activities
**Role plays in Language Learning
**Quick Activities for Students
**Visual Aids
**Songs
**Poems
**Stories
**Plays
**Tongue Twisters and Rhymes
**Books – Tales – Fairy Tales
**Teenage Books – Think: Hardy boys, Goosebumps, Boxcar children, et cetera…
**Practice in Grammar, Spelling, Handwriting
**Composition
**Dictionaries – Picture Dictionaries
**Projects / Group Projects
**Practice Tests
**Magazines
**American Customs and Traditions
**American Holidays
**Traditional American Dishes
**American Education
**Popular Film Stars and Singers
**Menus
**And, of course just plain books. Any level. Almost any kind.
So, think you want to do this??? Ok. Here are some more logistics.
What is an ‘M’-Bag?
The M-bags are provided by the US post office. And they are defined as ‘direct sacks of printed matter to a single addressee.’ They can be sent via Airmail (7 to 10 days delivery time) or Surface Mail (6 to 8 weeks delivery time). Surface delivery will save the greatest amount of money.
The items to be shipped must be packaged securely in boxes that will fit into a mail sack. Each box must be properly addressed to the delivery address as well as having a return address. In the upper right hand corner where the postage normally would be affixed must be the words (Postage Paid By M-Bag). Properly filled in customs forms and M-bag labels must be affixed to each sack. Postage is calculated by weight and there is a minimum charge of 11 pounds per sack. A maximum weight of 66 pound applies for each sack.
Where do I send this M-Bag?
Please send it to my Shoumen address:
Mark Jackson
Obstina Shoumen
blv. "Slavanski" 17
Shoumen, 9700
Bulgaria
Well, I hope we can work something out. I know the schools and town will be very excited and thankful. And, obviously, do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions or need clarification.
Take care,
~~Mark
[Email to a Friend:
]
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