Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 71.65
Liaison Laura Bain
Submission Date Jan. 19, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Furman University
IN-24: Innovation A

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Laura Bain
Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment
David E. Shi Center for Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Dzaleka Refugee Camp Library and Lilongwe University, Malawi

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:

The Furman Library jumped on a unique opportunity to help refugees in Malawi, Africa. In January, Asian Studies Professor Kate Kaup struck up a conversation with Janis Bandelin, director of libraries. Kaup’s sister, Virginia Palmer, was serving as the U.S. ambassador to Malawi, an impoverished country in east Africa and home to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp. The camp operates a vibrant learning center that allows refugees to take online college courses and find jobs. With space limited, though, many are turned away. Those who are denied often turn to the library for self-help. The Dzaleka Community Library, a one-room building, needed books to help students learn English and science. Furman Library staff went to work culling the shelves. After some conversation and inventory work, the request was finalized, and Furman students packed books for shipping. Soon after, 40 boxes containing 621 books arrived at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Furman Libraries are exploring additional ways to continue collaboration with the Dzaleka Camp.

The Malawi connection continued when Fulbright Scholar and Furman professor, Suresh Muthukrishnan, began work with The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Lilongwe, Malawi. He recognized a need for additional resources and worked with Furman's science library to send four boxes of books on GIS, Remote Sensing, Climate Science, and Environmental Science to the University.


Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Public Engagement
Diversity & Affordability
Wellbeing & Work

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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