Book Aid International

Hi! Here I have some information about the Book Charity of the Month; Book Aid International.
They are a really worthwhile charity; you should check out their website at
http://www.bookaid.org/

Ok, here's some stuff from their website...

Book Aid International increases access to books and supports literacy, education and development in sub-Saharan Africa. We provided 516,138 new books to over 2,000 libraries last year alone and have sent more than 30 million books to partner libraries since 1954.

Community libraries

Maili Saba Community Library

“Parents are very poor and cannot afford their own reading materials. The library is the only hope for the community.” – Bernard Irungu, Librarian

In 2011 Book Aid International began a project to transform Maili Saba Community Library in the Mathare Valley slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Established in 2009 by the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), the library was immediately popular with the local community however, many of the shelves were bare and its limited book collection was worn and outdated.

Mathare Valley slum

Earlier this year, we sent 2,000 high-quality books from our warehouse here in London, and transferred a grant to MYSA to buy a further 1,200 books locally published in Kenya. We also provided funds for stationary including library catalogue cards, book labels and dividers to enable the library staff to manage the book collection as efficiently as possible.

Steven and Simon, library volunteers, Maili Saba Community Library

In September 2012 we visited Maili Saba to see how the transformation had changed the library and found it packed full with young children enjoying story books and teenagers studying for exams. The library is managed by librarian Bernard Irungu who is supported by two dedicated young volunteers, Steve and Simon. They told us that thanks to Book Aid International, Maili Saba now has the best book collection of all six MYSA libraries in Nairobi and that our children’s and science books are the most popular with with readers.

Young library user

Far from the bare shelves of 2009, Maili Saba is now crammed full with brand new books from Book Aid International, and plans are underway to expand the library building to create more reading space for the high numbers of users!

Where we work

At Book Aid International, we know that books change lives. We are dedicated to increased access to books and other reading materials to support literacy, education and development across sub-Saharan Africa, in some of the poorest countries of the world.
Every year, we send around half a million brand new books to our partners, which are read over and over again by millions of readers. We work closely with the book and publishing trade in the UK who donate nearly all of the high quality, relevant books we send.
We currently work in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
We also have a small programme in The Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Who we are

Book Aid International is a small charity, governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees, led by the Chair, Philip Walters MBE, who set strategy and oversee the delivery of the Book Aid International Strategy and annual plan. The Board meets regularly with the Director and the Management Team, who report on progress against the planned activities. The Board of Trustees also provide professional advice and assistance when necessary.
We employ around 15 paid staff, most of whom are based in our South London warehouse and office, and we have an East Africa representative based in Nairobi. We are also very lucky to have the generous support of around 50 volunteers, many of whom join us regularly in the warehouse to stamp, sort and pack books destined for partner countries.
Our Royal Patron is His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., K.T.
Our Honorary President is Nigel Newton, Chief Executive of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, and our Honorary Vice President is Professor Kingo Mchombu of University of Namibia.

If you have some free time ;) please do something for them! Everything helps!

Thanks, bookworm friends

Nerdy Birdy (Book Worm)