BOTA IME - MY WORLD
Revitalising an old classroom into a library
Every child in Kosovo deserves access to books to learn how to read and obtain the fundamental skills and resources to achieve their highest potential. Literacy opens the doors to many opportunities and builds fundamental life skills that give every child a chance to start their own journey and become a lifelong reader.
Library Project Kosova, has aimed to transform unused spaces in schools and turn them into school libraries and reading corners - with students contributing their ideas and wishes to make the environment as ideal as possible for them and their needs.
These spaces are revitalised with the inclusion of school students as the main focus in a democratic manner. Another crucial factor that is carefully considered is the financial and material resources and the environmental impact, therefore whenever possible, furniture is reused or donated. Most importantly, TLPK has aimed to let children be involved from the start to finish to help create ownership of their libraries.
Location
School Azem Bejta, Grabanicë
Klinë, Kosova
Article
Kosovo 2.0
Information
Full document of the process ︎
Collaboration
Students and teachers, Azem Bejta School
Lirbary Project Kosova
DB’s Responsibility
Revitalising an old classroom into the library. Dealing with stakeholders both in Sweden and Kosova. Arranging workshops with students, teachers and the municipality of Klinë, Kosova. Field study, research and development of methods. In addition, working on concept proposal, 3D studies, and final drawings before hand-over. Also, teamwork coordination and communication.
Completed
July 2021
On the outskirts of Klinë, Kosova, we find the primary school Azem Bejta in Grabanicë. The school, like most schools in Kosova, are old, underfunded and has received little investment since its construction in 1974. In efforts to activate space and bring a library into their school - the students requested support from the organisation Library Project Kosova in collaboration with the architect, Drenusha Blakcori.
Together with the school’s students (class 1-9) and school representatives - an unused classroom and two archive rooms (attached to the classroom) were identified for potential transformation into a library and reading space for the students.
The final result shows a flexible space, where the library can be used for various educational classes and activities. Today, with great interest - the library has developed into an important meeting space for the community where they can meet after school hours and celebrate various events, such as the national day and birthdays.
The following will show an extract of the process including, various workshops with the students towards the final result - The library, Bota Ime.
Merged plans from the first workshop made by the students at Azem Bejta School
Klinë, Kosova 2019
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Class 1-9
Klinë, Kosova 2019
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Class 1-9
The Classroom
Azem Bejta School, 2019
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*not renovated since 1974 with limited heatsystem
Azem Bejta School, 2019
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*not renovated since 1974 with limited heatsystem
First Workshop
2019
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Ideas / Feelings / Dreams
Class 1-5 and 6-9
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A two-day workshop was arranged for the students and held in the old classroom. The days were filled with presentations of their human rights (UNICEF), open discussions in big and small groups about what is required for a dream library - how they define a space for focus and calmness, also what their favourite places are and their feelings they get when spending their time there.
The process showed us how amazing the children’s ideas and imagination truly are.
Further, their discussions were written down on post-its and put on the wall to later to turn the ideas into the future library drawings.
With a blueprint handed out for each group (displaying a plan of the current classroom) and coloured pencils - the old classroom turned into an atmosphere filled with talks and laughs and hectic discussions about how best to create the space for all students.
2019
-
Ideas / Feelings / Dreams
Class 1-5 and 6-9
-
A two-day workshop was arranged for the students and held in the old classroom. The days were filled with presentations of their human rights (UNICEF), open discussions in big and small groups about what is required for a dream library - how they define a space for focus and calmness, also what their favourite places are and their feelings they get when spending their time there. The process showed us how amazing the children’s ideas and imagination truly are.
Further, their discussions were written down on post-its and put on the wall to later to turn the ideas into the future library drawings. With a blueprint handed out for each group (displaying a plan of the current classroom) and coloured pencils - the old classroom turned into an atmosphere filled with talks and laughs and hectic discussions about how best to create the space for all students.
Second Workshop
2019
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Voting + Chosen design [later adaped after final budget]
-
It was important to remind the students that their voices were the guidance to help us make the right choice. Their opinion matters!
To strengthen this, the students were asked to practice their democratic rights by voting for their favourite design.
2019
-
Voting + Chosen design [later adaped after final budget]
-
It was important to remind the students that their voices were the guidance to help us make the right choice. Their opinion matters!
To strengthen this, the students were asked to practice their democratic rights by voting for their favourite design.
Third Workshop
2019
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Creating ways to reach out with the project and raise money
-
Despite the pandemic and limited budget - we did not lose hope to finalise the library.
Therefore, the focus was on digitally raising as much funds as possible throughout 2020.
The students actively shared and created videos and posts to spread information about the project.
This was supported by creating a GofundMe page for donations, selling books and t-shirts and reaching out to other organisations for contribution.
2019
-
Creating ways to reach out with the project and raise money
-
Despite the pandemic and limited budget - we did not lose hope to finalise the library.
Therefore, the focus was on digitally raising as much funds as possible throughout 2020. The students actively shared and created videos and posts to spread information about the project. This was supported by creating a GofundMe page for donations, selling books and t-shirts and reaching out to other organisations for contribution.
Fourth Workshop
2021
-
Renovation + Furniture arrival
-
An important aspect raised from the very first workshop was the need for a better working quality space.
To meet this, the municipality of Klinë helped renovate the school with new windows and a heating system in 2020.
After that, TLPK clinically cleaned the floor and renovated the walls by giving a new interior ‘facade’ with white paint to lighten up the space.
Further, the process also included finding new potential and functions in old furniture in the area.
Thanks to Ciceron Projekt, Albakos Ungdomscenter, Rededge Consulting AB, and all private volunteers from TLPK - we also managed to save money by getting furniture and office supplies donated.
2021
-
Renovation + Furniture arrival
-
An important aspect raised from the very first workshop was the need for a better working quality space.
To meet this, the municipality of Klinë helped renovate the school with new windows and a heating system in 2020. After that, TLPK clinically cleaned the floor and renovated the walls by giving a new interior ‘facade’ with white paint to lighten up the space.
Further, the process also included finding new potential and functions in old furniture in the area. Thanks to Ciceron Projekt, Albakos Ungdomscenter, Rededge Consulting AB, and all private volunteers from TLPK - we also managed to save money by getting furniture and office supplies donated.
Fifth Workshop
2021
-
Create and furnish the Library
-
As mentioned, TLPK aimed to let children be involved from
the start until the end
of the project to create their ownership of the library.
Therefore, they were invited for a final workshop
to help build
the furniture and furnish the space to create the library they had drawn and imagined. This process was engaged with discussions and comparisons led by the students - which strengthened their voice of decision making and problem-solving skills.
Before the opening of the library, we prepared the space by adding the final details: placing the books on the bookshelves, adding posters from the exhibition A Tribute to children’s books created by 17 Swedish illustrators and children’s books authors on the walls (this exhibition was translated into Albanian by Entela Tabaku). In addition, flowers, larger plants, smaller lamps, and balloons were added to make the library more personal.
2021
-
Create and furnish the Library
-
As mentioned, TLPK aimed to let children be involved from the start until the end of the project to create their ownership of the library.
Therefore, they were invited for a final workshop to help build the furniture and furnish the space to create the library they had drawn and imagined. This process was engaged with discussions and comparisons led by the students - which strengthened their voice of decision making and problem-solving skills.
Before the opening of the library, we prepared the space by adding the final details: placing the books on the bookshelves, adding posters from the exhibition A Tribute to children’s books created by 17 Swedish illustrators and children’s books authors on the walls (this exhibition was translated into Albanian by Entela Tabaku). In addition, flowers, larger plants, smaller lamps, and balloons were added to make the library more personal.
The Library
July 2021
-
On opening day, a ceremony was arranged filled with speeches held by teachers, students and the organisation.
To inaugurate the library - a pink silk ribbon was cut together with the students.
- Bota Ime -
- My World -
-
The Library was given the name - “Bota Ime” by the students, which in albanian means “My world”.
A final and proud result of showing the ownership they have created along the journey.
July 2021
-
On opening day, a ceremony was arranged filled with speeches held by teachers, students and the organisation.
To inaugurate the library - a pink silk ribbon was cut together with the students.
- Bota Ime -
- My World -
-
The Library was given the name - “Bota Ime” by the students, which in albanian means “My world”.
A final and proud result of showing the ownership they have created along the journey.
<3
