"Wonderland"
As the library began to take shape, the books—once crammed tightly onto crowded shelves—were given room to breathe and finally put on display. A variety of curious stakeholders began to drop by, eager to witness the transformation in progress.
The first visitor was a recent university graduate and former JAMS student; she now works on campus supporting operations while awaiting a teaching position in English literature. When she stepped into the library, her mouth was agape in astonishment. She couldn’t believe the change–most notably the sheer number of incredible books now on display. She walked through the space in awe, taking photos and videos to share with fellow JAMS alumni in a group chat. “They’re going to be so excited,” she said, smiling. “We only wish it looked like this when we were students.”
Next came one of the school’s directors, Dr. Wasonga’s sister. She gasped with joy as she entered the space. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. In a region where bookstores are largely focused on selling textbooks, the curated shelf displays stood out to her. She walked around the space with eyes like saucers and a wide smile until she finally said something that will remain with us: “This will increase the students’ appetite for reading.”
But the response we most anticipated came from the school’s founder, Dr. Wasonga herself. She has always taken pride in having a library in her school, which is still a rarity in schools located in rural Kenya. Her first reaction: “It feels like I stepped into Wonderland. I am Alice in Wonderland.” She went on to share her amazement: how the space had been opened up, how the furniture had been rearranged to make the library more welcoming, how the collection had been thoughtfully weeded and reorganized to reflect the students’ wants, needs, and interests. The displays, the atmosphere, the flow—it all worked to bring books to life in a way she had never seen before. She put her trust in us, and we did our best to fulfill her vision.
It’s never easy to step into someone else’s space–especially on the other side of the world–and help bring their vision to life. It requires trust—earned slowly through listening, learning, and honoring the existing culture and community. But when that trust is built, and the vision starts to unfold, something extraordinary happens. For a moment, it feels like stepping into Wonderland—not just for those who walk into the space, but also for those who helped bring it to life.
