Librarian, Adrian Thompson volunteered in Zambia in 2017, his 4th time with the Book Bus. Book Bus volunteer, Carol Williams caught up with Adrian recently for a chat and to ask him, what keeps him coming back for more?
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| Adrian & Edward read with children |
“I especially appreciate the overall excellent organisation of the Book Bus and the level of support both in the UK and overseas which is invaluable both for seasoned volunteers like myself and new volunteers,” Adrian said.
“The Book Bus team make the whole experience of volunteering work brilliantly, with their organisational skills and knowledge of the local area, and of the Zambian education system. There is a real exchange going on, between Project Co-ordinator, Bwalya and the Book Bus Zambian team supporting volunteers, and at the same time sharing ideas from volunteers who join the project. I worked alot with local BB team member Edward & we shared many ideas to help engage local children in reading,“ he added.
Adrian spoke positively about the way volunteers worked as partners with local teachers, classroom assistants and the Book Bus team gaining skills and ideas that can be used to develop engaging reading sessions for children in the future.
“This can be particularly valuable,” continued Adrian, “as there are many differences between schools in Zambia and the UK– classes of 60, no computers (sometimes even no electricity) and lack of resources means that teaching can be challenging, but everyone values the new ideas that volunteers bring. This is what makes the Book Bus’s impact a long lasting one, lasting well beyond the time each volunteer spends in Zambia.”
Be part of the local community
Adrian emphasises the difference between visiting somewhere like Livingstone in Zambia (where the current Book Bus project is based) as a tourist, where you may only meet local people as hotel staff and tour guides, and the Book Bus experience, which allows you, for a short time, to become part of the local community. On a previous Book Bus visit, in South Luangwa, Adrian and the volunteer team visited the local Rotary Club, and met some interesting people who gave a whole new insight into the area.
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| Making reading fun |
“Some people obviously volunteer with friends or family,” suggested Adrian, ‘but if, like many others, you are travelling alone, you have a ready-made group of colleagues to work with, and also to spend free time with.”
Experience of working with children is in no way essential for Book Bus volunteering, but Adrian’s day job as school librarian in a UK primary school definitely gave him valuable skills and confidence.
You only had to see him story-telling with puppets, or leading a group of 5 and 6 year olds around the playground on a bear hunt, to appreciate that. But it is the variety of skills that volunteers bring that makes the whole team work well together, and skills, enthusiasm and experience are shared to good effect. An interest in children and a love of books are what all volunteers have in common.
Explore Zambia & go on safari
On his Book Bus trips, Adrian has always made the most of opportunities to explore the area. Like many volunteers he stayed on after his time with the Book Bus to explore Zambia and other parts of Southern Africa. Weekends can be spent on a safari in Botswana, and after a morning working at school, you can go on an afternoon safari drive, or take in the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls. It's a fascinating part of the world with so much to do and explore.
And will Adrian return again for a fifth trip? His answer was an absolute yes!
Our volunteer reading project runs from 13th August to 7th September 2018. Places are limited for 2018. Find out more
