Comments on: A Little Money Goes a Long Way in China http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/a-little-money-goes-a-long-way-in-china/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Mon, 21 May 2012 23:19:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Naomi Guy http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/a-little-money-goes-a-long-way-in-china/#comment-5085 Naomi Guy Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:40:50 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/a-little-money-goes-a-long-way-in-china/#comment-5085 What I love about this project, besides the fact that they are donating these books to children, is the effort they are taking to educate the leaders on how to run a proper library. This is what really sets this program apart from other charities that simply give books and leave. They also return and replenish the books to keep them fresh and relevant to the children's age, it is wonderful. The questions I would ask are... 1. Have you had difficulties dealing with the government? 2. Have any schools failed? Did you attempt to fix it? 3. Do you have any specials agreements with publishers to help your costs? 4. Have you seen any longterm results from your program? If so, how do you plan to use them to gain support for your program? What I love about this project, besides the fact that they are donating these books to children, is the effort they are taking to educate the leaders on how to run a proper library. This is what really sets this program apart from other charities that simply give books and leave. They also return and replenish the books to keep them fresh and relevant to the children’s age, it is wonderful.

The questions I would ask are…
1. Have you had difficulties dealing with the government?
2. Have any schools failed? Did you attempt to fix it?
3. Do you have any specials agreements with publishers to help your costs?
4. Have you seen any longterm results from your program? If so, how do you plan to use them to gain support for your program?

]]> By: Catriona Banks-Orosco http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/a-little-money-goes-a-long-way-in-china/#comment-5048 Catriona Banks-Orosco Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:14:33 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/a-little-money-goes-a-long-way-in-china/#comment-5048 What impressed me the most reading about the Library Project is really how simply the process appears to be orchestrated. I know that all the behind the scenes work is not simple. However, the idea of using bright colors and providing reading material that is appropriate for the age of the children is very basic. It makes sense that there would be an outpouring of support. They were able to generate 6000 donated books in one book drive!! The Library Project looks like a great model that could be applied in many developing countries. I would like to know if the organization has been contacted by other charities or people interested in setting up similiar programs in other countries. I'd also be curious how they determine if the books are being used on a daily basis. That seems to be part of the agreement that the schools enter, but I'm curious how they track it. Also, do they have plans to attempt to replace worn out books after a certain period of time? I would love to know more about how the idea was first put into practice and what has been learned from the process. What impressed me the most reading about the Library Project is really how simply the process appears to be orchestrated. I know that all the behind the scenes work is not simple. However, the idea of using bright colors and providing reading material that is appropriate for the age of the children is very basic. It makes sense that there would be an outpouring of support. They were able to generate 6000 donated books in one book drive!!

The Library Project looks like a great model that could be applied in many developing countries. I would like to know if the organization has been contacted by other charities or people interested in setting up similiar programs in other countries. I’d also be curious how they determine if the books are being used on a daily basis. That seems to be part of the agreement that the schools enter, but I’m curious how they track it. Also, do they have plans to attempt to replace worn out books after a certain period of time? I would love to know more about how the idea was first put into practice and what has been learned from the process.

]]> By: Simone Michel http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/a-little-money-goes-a-long-way-in-china/#comment-5043 Simone Michel Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:55:52 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/a-little-money-goes-a-long-way-in-china/#comment-5043 Wow, what a great project! The children look so excited in the fotos, they could hardly wait and started reading the books on the way through the forrest back to their town. I am excited to meet Tom and I think some interesting questions to ask him would include: - What are the most difficult cultural challenges to overcome? - Have you faced any opposition or problems while dealing with the locals? - How do you motivate your helpers without money? - To what extent do you cooperate with the government? - If you do so, does it help to advance in your mission? - How do you measure performance in order to improve accountability to donors and other stakeholders? - What do you think about non-profit organizations becoming more entrepreneurial? - What are your future goals and plans for the Library Project? Wow, what a great project! The children look so excited in the fotos, they could hardly wait and started reading the books on the way through the forrest back to their town.
I am excited to meet Tom and I think some interesting questions to ask him would include:

- What are the most difficult cultural challenges to
overcome?
- Have you faced any opposition or problems while dealing
with the locals?
- How do you motivate your helpers without money?
- To what extent do you cooperate with the government?
- If you do so, does it help to advance in your mission?
- How do you measure performance in order to improve
accountability to donors and other stakeholders?
- What do you think about non-profit organizations becoming
more entrepreneurial?
- What are your future goals and plans for the Library
Project?

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