Columbia River Peace Corps Association

Grant Application

Statement of Non-Discrimination

It is the general policy of CRPCA to operate without discrimination as to age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin in the overall administration of the Organization and in the consideration of grant requests from agencies and organizations.

Grant applications are accepted three times a year: in January, May, and September. Please refer to the CRPCA website (www.crpca.org) for specific information about preparing and submitting a Grant Application. Submit this application to CRPCA Grants Coordinator Richard Rystrom @ .

Name of Applicant (please print or type)

Name of Applicant / Ann Easterly
Title of Grant / Liberia- Establishing additional School Libraries and Training for Librarians
Legal Name of Organization / African Children’s Libraries
Organization Address / 2221 NW 12th St., Corvallis, OR 97330
Name of Director or President / Ann Easterly / 541 757 2467
Director/President Email / / Fax
Contact Person / Ann Easterly / Phone
Contact Address / 2221 NW 12th St., Corvallis, OR 97330
Contact Email / / Fax

Pledge Information

Date Organization or Event was Established: September, 2001______
# of paid staff: none ,# of volunteers: 5 Board members plus others up to twenty or so at one time including Rotary, Kiwanis, college, high school students, occasionally as young as 4 years old

Are you an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit? X Yes ____ No

Are you a governmental agency? Yes X No
Provide a letter of support from the organization you are working with.

General Purpose of the Organization: To support literacy by providing books for children’s libraries and training for library assistants for those school libraries

Name of Project / Books for Liberian school libraries
Grant Amount Requested / $1000 / Match Amount / Presently $5000
Total Project Budget / $8000 (We continue to do fundraising.)
Below are letters of support .for this application / Below are letters of support for this application

January 21, 2011

To The Columbia Returned Peace Corps Organization

Re Testimonial for Ms Ann Easterly

African Children’s Library

From Stephanie Vickers

President Friends of Liberia

It is a pleasure to share the fine work that Ms Easterly has been conducting tirelessly for the children of Liberia through her excellent library program and training.

ACL supplies school libraries with books and training for library assistants.Ann Easterly has assisted in establishing sixteen school libraries since 2001.The communities and schools have been chosen by a team of the YMCA, Liberian Educators for Action and Peace(LEAP) and African Children's Libraries. ACL has provided training for school staff. Ms. Easterly is teaching Liberian monitors to assess the schools' on-going care. Records of the numbers of students and staff using the libraries are kept.

Ms. Easterly collects used books which are sorted and packed for shipment to Liberia.The librarian training and supervision in Liberia assures that the school library is used appropriatelyby the students and staff.More libraries are planned for the future.

Ann Easterly’s work assists in Liberia’s goal for improving education and literacy.

I have discussed programs with Ann over 5 years. She is capable and extremely dedicated to this library work in Liberia.

I hope that you will consider providing fund support for African Children’s Libraries______

Letter #2:

From

Romana M. Paynter

CFO, African Children’s Libraries

Since 2001 Ann Easterly has been a tireless advocate for setting up school libraries with books in Liberia. Ann has helped establish 15 school libraries in Liberia & Nigeria and supplied them with books from kindergarten – through 5th grade. This has been accomplished on a budget averaging $6,000.00 a year.

The work is tedious in collecting used books from the Portland Public School district, sorting and packing boxes for shipment to Liberia. Ann also conducts the librarian training in Liberia to make sure that the school library is in the hands of the villages, and used by the people.

Ann Easterly’s work is at the heart of helping people to improve their lives, and with education to step out of poverty, and be a contributor to society.


Please answer the following questions. You may use additional sheets of paper as needed.

1.  Exactly how will the funds being requested from CRPCA be spent? Please include a project budget.

Specifically for library assistant training at one of two trainings.

Shipping by Firestone Natural Rubber Company

Books and a cargo container provided by The International Book Project

Port Fees roughly $1000

Distribution roughly 500

Trainings about 2000

Trainers’ transportation 2000

Purchased new Liberian related books 2600

Training supplies 200

Miscellaneous trainer’s expenses 300

TOTAL $ 8,600

2.  What is the timeframe?

* Shipping of new books to International Book Project- January, 2011

* Books packed in Kentucky and sent to Firestone Baltimore Port- February

* Firestone ship to Port of Monrovia February 12, 2011

* Port clearance March

* Library assistant trainings March 12-14 and March 19-20

* Sorting and distribution of 150,000 books March

* Evaluation of March programs and on-going school libraries March/September

3.  How do you intend to measure outcomes of the project?

* Number of additional school libraries : Our goal is to add 4 new ones

* Number of books in each of the 16 existing libraries 1300 books

* Number of students/staff used in existing library in month

* Number of existing school library assistants receiving some compensation

* Condition of library and books

* Organization of administration tools

4.  What will happen to this project if your proposal is only partially funded by a grant from CRPC?

Depending on other grant applications, one training may need to be modified. Without additional funds we may not be able toad ad many additional schools.

5.  Are you a PCV or RPCV from Oregon or Southwest Washington or is this area your home base?

I am a RPCV form Liberia VII from Oregon. Liberia I RPCV are supporting this project. African Children’s Libraries is currently situated in Corvallis.

6.  Please evaluate how well your project meets the following priorities of CRPCA’s members:

How is your project similar to those experienced by Peace Corps Volunteers?

No, because this is an outside organization (ACL and Friends of Liberia) providing for books and school libraries.

Is your project education-based? Absolutely. It directly effects literacy and learning to read.

Is your project objective-based and does it have measurable results? Yes

Is your project self-sustainable after the end of the grant period? Yes

The librarians administer their schools. Liberian trainers will check school use of the libraries, and needs for any further training..

How does your project benefit women and children? Yes

Girls are going to school in greater numbers. The libraries support the education of girls.

How does your project empower the recipients?

Education empowers students and staff in almost all cultures/ nations. The students are able to read a wider variety of materials and learn more about the world outside their communities.

How does your project improve people's lives?

·  Having books assists in improving literacy.

·  Being able to read in a second language(English) in tribal communities gives more understanding of and opportunities in dealing with government rules and politics.

·  The community can use the school libraries as well as students.

How does your project meet community need(s)?

·  Students learn more about their broader world providing a foundation for more opportunities for them in Liberia.

·  The community can use the school libraries as well as students.

·  The library can be used for community gatherings.

* One or more jobs may be available. i.e. library assistant, watchman.

Any additional comments you may wish to address:

ENDORSEMENT

To the best of my knowledge and belief, the statements in this grant application are true and correct; the governing body of the applicant has duly authorized the document; and the applicant organization will comply with applicable laws, regulations, terms and conditions in effect at the time of grant. I understand that CRPCA, in evaluating this grant application, may, if it deems appropriate, review any and all of the information submitted as part of this request with advisors of CRPCA’s choosing. If this grant is awarded the Grantee shall provide public acknowledgment of this grant by using regular procedures, which may include, but are not limited to, news releases, announcements, certificates, plaques, markers or banners. The Grantee shall submit all public acknowledgements to CRPCA and obtain pre-approval when appropriate (such as with permanent markers, plaques, etc.)

/ January 26, 2011
(Required) Signature of Authorized Representative of Organization / Date
/ January 26, 2011
Signature of Contact Person

All applications are considered final and no revisions will be accepted without prior approval.