The Rotary Clubs of Maysville, North Carolina and Dhanbad, India formed a Twin City Model project and initiated a library at St. Anthony’s School in Dhanbad. This was a first for both clubs and fulfilled the goals of an international literacy project. We are proud to call this the ‘100 Books in 100 Days’ project. Future joint projects are being planned between these partner clubs. Both clubs plan to add additional books to the library at St. Anthony’s, update the library at DeNobli School, and begin video conferencing between schools in India and USA to enhance cultural awareness and to education young mothers in villages so they may become self sufficient and help bring the literacy gap for their children to a close.
In 2006, both clubs are sponsoring a book drive in the months of February and March. Books in Hindi will be collected in India to furnish the library at St. Anthony’s and books in English will come from Maysville to add to the library at De Nobli. A video conferencing site will be set up at Maysville Elementary School and in DeNobli.
Where is Dhanbad?
Dhanbad is located in the state of Jharkhand in India, Rotary District 3250. The newly formed state was once a part of Bihar which is on the east coast of India. Dhanbad is about 150 miles north of Kolkatta formally known as Calcutta. Bihar is known as the coal mining state as all of the coal in India comes from there.
Why Dhanbad?
Rotarian Nancy Barbee was privileged to visit Dhanbad in 2001 with friends who are native to Dhanbad. After a visit to the small church and school at St. Anthony’s and seeing how far her friends had come, she felt compelled to give something back to their community. There was no library at the small school and since literacy is a Rotary vision and Nancy herself being a librarian, thought to initiate a library in her friends honor.
This project was initiated by The Rotary Club of Maysville as their international project. Rotary International promotes literacy and education worldwide so the club was fulfilling two missions of service by starting a library in this small school.
How can you contribute?
If you are in the United States then please contact The Rotary Club of Maysville by using the contact form on the website at:
web: http://www.maysvillerotary.org
If you are in India, please contact Luv Kumar from the Rotary Club of Dhanbad at luvkamra@hotmail.com
Twin City Model
Past RI President Estees made international projects easier than ever to do with his Twin City idea. Two clubs can partner with each other to complete a project and fill out forms after the project is complete. This saves time and easier for both clubs in the long run.
The Rotary Club of Dhanbad
Rotarian Nancy was pleased to visit the Rotary Club of Dhanbad and be their guest on a tour of their many projects. The have started and maintain a vocational school for young women so they may learn a trade, started a school for handicapped children, a Literacy Express Van that travels to villages, a hospital for the poor, and the list goes on. This is the library from the beginning.
For further information on how to participate:
Contact Assistant Governor Nancy Barbee