Coordinator of Instruction and Outreach Librarian Patrick Rudd led library service work at Ekukhanyisweni Primary School during the Winter Term study abroad class to South Africa.
Rudd was asked by Associate Professor Prudence Layne, program director for the South Africa Study Abroad class, to coordinate the 2015 library service project at Ekukhanyisweni Primary School in Alexandra, South Africa.
Rudd worked with the school’s first full-time librarian and assisted Elon students in organizing, classifying and labeling 4,500 new books. Two Elon students painted a mural for the library.
The librarian position and book donations were made possible by the SASA 2015 class as well as other donations to the Global Links Library and Literacy Campaign, one of several service projects developed by Layne as part of Elon University’s study abroad South Africa course.
Since 2007 the SASA program has built a legacy of service to Ekukhanyisweni Primary School, providing books and computers for its library. Other initiatives include providing students with school uniforms, shoes, and school supplies. Each year, SASA students also brighten up the school with fresh paint and murals.