Student Committee of
Librarians Without
Borders at
UBC
Carroll
AireyCarroll Airey will be coming to UBC at noon on October 13, 2010 the Dodson room to talk about her work in Nicaragua.
LWB@UBC recently donated more than $300 to TASK. Read more here.
LWB@UBC is proud to announce the launch of the Take A Stand For Kids blog!
Carroll Airey, a U.B.C. alumn, worked as a elementary teacher-librarian for 25 years in Houston B.C. With a life-long interest in global education and social justice issues, she shared her passion over the years with all her K-7 students.
In
1998, after Hurricane Mitch wrecked havoc over Central America, she
facilitated a student-led club in her school called Children Helping
Children, to help victims of the disaster. For the next 6 years the
club became the focal point of the little school raising over $10,000,
most of which was used to establish children’s libraries in two
communities in Nicaragua. After two bouts of breast cancer and a
workplace bullying experience, Carroll decided to retire early, and
focus her attention on the thing she loves the most - her work in the
small desperately poor rural “cowboy town” of Santa Rosa del Peņon,
Nicaragua.
In June 2008, Carroll was recognized for her work by CoDevelopment Canada, an NGO in Vancouver that works throughout Latin America. She was presented with their 2008 International Solidarity Award “for her long-standing commitment to education and partnership between communities in Northern B.C. and Nicaragua.”
Since 2004, Carroll has worked alone on her project now called Take A Stand for Kids, which supports health and education initiatives in Santa Rosa del Peņon, Nicaragua. The education component of her project includes a community library, a children’s play centre, scholarships for youth and a sewing school.
In 2008, she was able to raise $10,000 to construct a community education centre, a long time dream of the women she works with. She also supports a maternity centre, which consists of pre and postpartum care for rural women, a nutrition program for the most vulnerable children and women, and a garden. Carroll works collaboratively with community leaders to determine the needs and provide the best possible support for their projects.
One
of her guiding principles for T.A.S.K. is to promote a sense of
solidarity between the people of Santa Rosa and Canadians. Carroll has
conducted two tours of rural Nicaragua, introducing Canadians to her
many friends in various rural regions of the country. Carroll is in the
process of incorporating Take A Stand for Kids as a registered society
to try and increase her ability to support the community of Santa Rosa.
On Monday, February 23, at SLAIS, Carroll will give a presentation on her past 10 years of work in Central America through photos and stories. (See EVENTS for details).
The Student Committee of Librarians Without Borders at UBC is proud to host Carroll and would like to thank her for sharing her message and story.