An Oak Lawn school librarian is making her mark both at home and in a country half a world away by inspiring others to raise money to build libraries in Zimbabwe, and she’ll be there in person this month for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the first completed library.
“I”ll be going by myself, bringing back lots of pictures and videos for everyone who helped make it possible,” said Heather McCarthy, who’s been school librarian since 2021 at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School in Oak Lawn. She began working there as an English teacher in 2005.
“I really just can’t wait to see books in hands. I know the kids are going to love to have this building, this structure, this space, but what I’m most looking forward to is seeing these physical books in their hands, seeing them read,” she shared. “They haven’t had this before. They do not have access to any kind of literature – not a single book.”
McCarthy, who lives in Oak Lawn, learned about the need for a library when she was invited on a leadership tour in 2024 with Tererai Trent, a favorite of Oprah Winfrey and founder and president of Tererai Trent International, a nonprofit organization based in rural Zimbabwe dedicated to advancing education. The organization supports 14 rural public schools.
When she visited Musukwi Primary School, her heart was “filled with so much joy and sadness. It was so amazing to see these kids so happy and joyous and loving when they had absolutely nothing. I brought my pictures and video back to my students at the middle school and showed them the bore holes we were drilling (for wells) and the gardens we were setting up. Then the students asked to see their library.”
McCarthy said her students were astonished that their African counterparts had no library or books, just a classroom with a thatched roof and a dirt floor. “Students said we should build them a library, and the next thing you know, we started all this fundraising and now they have a library.”
The students decided to raise money via the annual 5K Walk for Literacy, but they changed it to a 6K, the average distance students have to walk to get water or get to school, she explained. “During that event, the entire community of Oak Lawn came out. Our school hosted it, but we had students from surrounding schools, staff, community members. … It really was a full community effort.”
Another event that helped reach the $25,000 needed for the project was a fundraiser McCarthy hosted at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park.
The students want to keep raising money, and other schools want to help as well. “Now the vision is all sorts of schools hosting a fundraiser they’d like so we want to build a library for each and every school in this rural area of Zimbabwe,” she said.
Winfrey donated money to build a library in one of Trent’s schools, so that leaves 12 schools with no library. To raise $300,000 for 12 more libraries, McCarthy has launched a website, LibrariesforZimbabwe.org, so other schools can join the effort through such events as walks, penny wars or read-a-thons. “I really want it to be students helping students and students helping kids,” she said. “I just want to get the pictures and video from this next trip, June 8 to 25.”
The school district has been supportive, from the superintendent to the School Board to the administration in the building, sponsoring T-shirts, medals, water bottles and food for the race, as well as attending and participating, she said. “They provide all of that so every penny that is fundraised goes directly to the organization. It’s our one global effort that we do in the community.”
One supporter is her principal, Sean McNichols, who was “inspired by both the vision and the heart behind it,” he said. “The project reflects the very best of what education can accomplish beyond the classroom walls – creating opportunities, fostering literacy and building meaningful global connections for children and communities.”
He said McCarthy’s travels and service work in Rwanda, Malawi, Thailand and now Zimbabwe leads to her finding ways “to bring real-world experiences back to our students and turn learning into action.”
McNichols said the librarian’s phrase, “We walk so they don’t have to,” became “a powerful reminder of how “education can enhance both awareness and impact.” He was especially inspired when the students proposed donating proceeds from the literacy walk to the Zimbabwe library. “Their initiative and generosity demonstrated the direct impact Heather has had on developing compassionate, globally minded leaders. Equally meaningful was the overwhelming support from families, staff, alumni and community members who turned out in support of the event.”
McCarthy’s work led her to receive a Gold Award in the Children’s Education category at the Women Changing the World Awards and Summit held in Paris.
“Our goal is to shine a light on women whose work is creating positive change while also creating opportunities for connection, collaboration and visibility on a global stage,” said Peace Mitchell, co-founder of the awards and summit alongside her sister, Katy Garner, and Trent.
“As we learned more about (McCarthy’s) work, we were deeply moved by her commitment to supporting children and communities in her local community and internationally through education, advocacy and humanitarian initiatives,” Mitchell said. “The judges were particularly impressed by how she activates her local community, particularly the children, to work together to make a difference for children in Africa. Her work stood out because of both the heart behind it and the tangible outcomes she has created for others.”
McCarthy said the best part about winning the award (besides making her 16-year-old daughter, Maya, and 13-year-old son, Christian, proud) was showing her middle school students how they can affect the world.
“I think a lot of times they don’t realize that at age 12 they can make a difference,” she explained. “They’ve had this kind of impact halfway across the world, and that’s wonderful for them to see. The sooner you get kids involved in community service, the more likely they are to continue that in adulthood and into life.”
Trent’s deeply grateful for McCarthy and her “kindness and dedication” in helping the school get a library and computer laboratory. “Heather exemplifies a generous spirit and a joyful attitude that elevates those around her,” she shared.
Trent said having access to a library is crucial, “especially those in impoverished rural communities, because it offers essential resources and educational opportunities that can significantly improve their literacy levels, expand their knowledge and provide a safe space for learning and personal development.” She added that research shows having access to books boosts academic success and helps break the cycle of poverty “by opening new doors for these children.”
McCarthy said it was important to send money, not materials, to Zimbabwe to support the community, so books in both English and Shona could be included, something Trent appreciated, citing the high cost of shipping textbooks from the United States to Africa.
“Additionally, children in Africa benefit greatly from access to books that reflect their own culture, language and experiences,” Trent said, adding that McCarthy “recognizes that locally driven literacy initiatives foster community engagement, promote cultural pride and ensure that learning resources are accessible and appropriate for students’ needs.”
The grand opening celebration this month will feature representatives from neighboring communities and their village heads, many of whom have children who attend Musukwi Primary School, Trent said, as well as officials from the Ministry of Education and guests from governmental offices and the Hurungwe Rural District Council, who will gather “to mark the opening of the area’s first rural library,” complete with a wide selection of books and digital resources.
McCarthy will have the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon, and the expected large crowd of officials, residents, students and neighbors will enjoy local delicacies.
Trent called the librarian’s dedication to the project inspiring, adding that when she and her colleagues learned about the plan to build libraries in each of the schools they support, “our team had a strong emotional reaction; no one remained unaffected. We experienced a mix of joy and surprise – positive astonishment – since we hadn’t expected Heather to take on such a large initiative.”
Although McCarthy has raised enough money for one library, the work is just starting. The middle school’s annual 6K Walk for Literacy has been scheduled for Oct. 17. To participate or donate, email hmmccarthy@d123.org.
Melinda Moore is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
