FOKAL (La Fondation Connaissance et Liberté/Fondasyon Konesans Ak Libète), is the Open Society Institute foundation in Haiti. It supports 50 community libraries through the purchase of materials and equipment, training and the contribution of financial resources. More than 150 library managers have been trained or are scheduled for training by the foundation.

The 50 community libraries make available books, magazines, video and audio cassettes to communities which would otherwise have not access to such materials. The entire library network’s has a collection of approximately 85,000 books for 21,000 members in various parts of the country.

The libraries are looking self-supporting methods of generating income by collecting small fees from their members. The annual operating budget of a library is of approximately U$ 3,000. We are in the process of starting a fund-raising program based on individual contributions and institutional support.

Our objective is to reach more children, because they account for 48% of population, and to offer more space for reading, the recreation and education. This objective can be achieved if we manage to find support to maintain our services and programs. If you wish to make a donation, please click here: http://www.fokal-usa.org . For further information please contact:

In Haiti
Elisabeth PIERRE-LOUIS
FOKAL : 143, Avenue Christophe,
P.O. Box 2720, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, W.I.
Phone : (509) 224-1509, (509) 224-5421,(509) 224-1507
Fax (509) 224-1507
www.fokal.org
Email: epierrelouis@fokal.org

In the US
Linda MELLON
Director
Friends of FOKAL
c/o Open Soiciety Institute
400 West 59th Street
Phone: 212-548-0332 Fax: 212-548-4652
http://www.fokal-usa.org
Email: lmellon@fokal-usa.org