Inside a Sonoma senior project: Lena Mallett

Even though Lena Mallett is still in high school, it would be easy to argue that she's already a humanitarian. The Sonoma Valley High School senior recently returned from a trip to North Africa where she and her senior project mentor Barbara Hall, a member of the Morocco Library Project, fulfilled their mission of delivering hundreds of books to a high school in the small town of Rissani.

Before Morocco, Mallett had already gained experience working abroad. The year before, she spent a summer volunteering in Nicaragua. As her senior year began, Mallett was on the prowl for a project that could speak to her experience and interests.

During this time, Hall was in the midst of preparing to send books to Rissani. The venture was part of the Morocco Library Project, a nonprofit which works to build libraries and provide books to increase Moroccans' access to education.

Hall had begun to gather books at Readers' Books, where she works. 'At Readers' I was running a program where customers could purchase and donate books that would be sent to the school in Rissani,' Hall said.

Mallett happened across Hall's endeavor, and asked if she would be able to help.

'I said, 'I'd be happy to mentor you,' recalls Hall. 'This is the perfect thing for a young student to undertake.'' Hall said she thought it would be an excellent learning experience for the high school senior.

Mallett organized and ran a book drive at Sonoma Valley High School, bringing Hall's total to around 600 books.

'From the get-go, I was very impressed with her commitment,' said Hall.

Mallett explained that her drive stemmed from her belief in the importance of education.

'I think (education) should be a fundamental right for everyone around the world,' said Mallett. 'It disappoints me that it's a privilege and that it's so hard for most to even experience primary education, or education at all,'

To Mallett, education is linked to happiness and general well-being, so having the chance to help those in need was exciting.

The pair finally traveled to Morocco, during Mallett's spring break from school. This was Hall's second trip to Morocco.

'The first time I went, I was more of a tourist. It was a great introduction,' Hall said, 'But this time, I got to have a really, very personal experience. We were so welcome.'

Mallett felt the same. 'We lugged the books around in four enormous suitcases and finally unloaded them at the school,' said Mallett. 'Meeting the kids there felt very natural. There was this kind of energy that made it feel like home. I had never felt more welcome in my life.'

The school, Princess Lalla Salma High School, had prepared for the pair's arrival. Students made speeches and gave presentations in English. Mallett and Hall were both impressed.

'It was very gratifying to see with my own eyes that these young students wanted to learn: I got to experience that,' said Hall.

The project, according to Mallett, was a total success.

'I'm very happy with the way it turned out,' she said, 'I'm just so excited that they will be able to read all of those books I loved and cherished so much.'

Mallett actively keeps in touch with some of the students she met in Morocco, aspiring to start a pen pal program between students in Rissani and students at SVHS.

'I'm looking forward to continuing the pen pal system and creating bridges between these two beautiful towns,' said Mallett on her plans for the future.

Mallett plans to attend U.C. Santa Barbara in the fall. She is considering majoring in international relations and studying Arabic and is convinced she wants to continue doing humanitarian work.

'It's exhausting to see the news every day so flooded with tragedy and starvation, war and so much loss,' said Mallett. 'I'm tired of watching this happen and I need to see change.'