Photos have been removed from this issue because of a law in Kenya requiring strict documentation for photos and videos featuring school children.
January, 2020
Website: https://libraries4kids.org/
Changing The World One Mind At A Time
Happy New Year,
2020 is off to a great start for Libraries For Kids, Int'l and we hope you will want to be a part of our story.
Progress Report
So far we have shipped 393 books weighing 605 lbs to five schools in Kenya. Each box weighs 30-35 lbs. We send every school a set of encyclopedia/world books which is like Google to them since they do not have internet access. We also send each school money to buy textbooks that fit their curricula. In most schools, 5 to 30 students have to share one textbook. In Nguli, they have no textbooks.
As soon as we get some information we will ship to Shidley Primary School in Habaswein, Kenya and Kalimeza Primary School in Kitui, Kenya.
We are investigating the possibility of shipping a container containing 22,000 books. This will require a lot of money and support on the ground in Kenya but it is possible later in 2020.
We have a waiting list of 9 more schools to help in Kenya and opportunities in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania. Your donations will help us serve these schools.
So, what better way to start the year than with a true story.
Bridging the Gap
Submitted by Francis Wanjiku, aka Ciku. Francis is coordinating things for us in Kenya. She is a HUGE help and totally dedicated to this project. The books from Libraries for Kids International couldn’t come at a better time in most rural schools in Kenya. All candidates in both primary and secondary schools just completed their Annual national exams for KCPE and KCSE, respectively, and the results are as expected. Urban schools out-performed rural schools. Why you ask? Well, I was curious too and talked to several students who lamented the same thing, lack of adequate resources, mostly textbooks. Mutheu, wishes she had books as it would have made a difference in her school and possibly, towards her score that could only secure her the chance to join a sub-county school within the neighborhood, Mutulukuni Secondary school. Although she is grateful, Mutheu narrates a story I’m too familiar with and a story she will continue to endure at the secondary level for four years if the situation doesn’t change soon. Three to five students share a textbook per subject, and not all books, for all the subjects, are available. What would have changed if you had a textbook for every subject and could access it any time you wanted before you did your national examination last November? Mutheu replied: - "If I had access to storybooks or novels, I would have scored better in my English and Kiswahili subjects. Don’t laugh, but we have all struggled with grammar and composition writing since class six. If I don’t understand how to construct a proper sentence, or write a narrative of 150 words, or get a chance to read more, how can my English or Kiswahili score be more than 30%?" "If I had access to a textbook for every subject, I’d also have scored better in Mathematics, science, and social studies as I could have had more opportunities to practice and read ahead of the teacher every time. I did the best I could, but sharing textbooks with my classmates made it hard for me to keep up with the teacher and revise better. I could only get a few days after school with any of the available textbooks."
Click HERE for more amazing tales. Please help us help these kids to the gift of knowledge by donating to this cause. You can donate on our website or GoFundMe Page. LEARN MORE For more information about Libraries For Kids please visit our website. You can donate on the website.
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MEDIA
Click HERE for a link to a story on WHHI-TV, Hilton Head, SC
MEET OUR BOARD
Libraries For Kids, Int'l. is blessed to have a great Board of Directors. Each month we will profile a member of our board so you can get to know them.
Meet Rick Harris
Rick was born and raised in Marion, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and returned to Marion to join his father and brother in the automobile business. He spent the next 45 years in that business and served on the board of directors of many organizations that supported businesses and non-profits in our community. He married Rebecca in 1972 and they have one daughter Meghan. We moved to Bluffton, SC in 2014 to enjoy the wonderful weather and the community in which we live. I have been blessed by working with very talented people in my career and in my volunteering endeavors. I was taught one very important lesson, that community service is the rent we pay to be members of society. My reason for being involved in the Libraries for Kids project is that I felt it was essential to provide the opportunity to all children who thirst for knowledge the tools in which to fuel that passion. I am hopeful that our efforts will be able to play a small part in fulfilling those needs to the children in Africa.
Books For Sale: We have a set of 45 Alexandar Dumas books in very good to excellent condition published in 1895. The collection has been appraised at $2,500 We also have other old books for sale that are do not fit the criteria set by the schools in Kenya. See the left side panel. Copy & paste the list into Word and enlarge it. The books about the founding fathers were published in 1897. If you know a collector who would like to buy these books, please contact us at 843-597-4826.
GoFundMe
We have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money. No donation is too small and each helps in two ways. The more activity on the GoFundMe page, the higher its visibility, and also every little bit helps. Please click here to donate.
How Can you Help?
Speaking: We are looking for opportunities to present the Libraries For Kids Int’l story, such as civic clubs, churches, Chambers of Commerce, book clubs, professional associations, etc.
Celebrity Spokesperson: If you know someone or can connect us to a celebrity that would be a huge benefit
Partners: Our partners provide free services and in return, we put them on our website and feature them in our monthly e-newsletter. We are always looking for new partners
Shelves: We need shelving for our storage space. If you are doing a remodeling job and taking out old shelves or can part with a bookcase please let us know.
Corporate Sponsor: While we have learned how to minimize the cost of shipping books, it is still expensive. We are investigating the possibility of shipping a container of books so having a corporate sponsor for this project would be a great help. Money: Shipping & help schools pay customs fees and buy new textbooks. Books: There is a list of the type of books the schools want on the contact us page on our website. Please click here.
Library Named For You?
Would you like a library named for you? Setting up a library and supplying money for new textbooks costs about $2,500. Donate $2,500 and we will have the school name the library for you and send you pictures of your library. Sponsor a school today with a donation on GoFundMe or our website Libraries4Kids.org. We also accept checks payable to Libraries For Kids, Int'l. Mail to PO Box 1013, Bluffton, SC 29910.
PARTNER RECOGNITION
Many thanks to our partners who have supplied free services. Please support them. We are pleased to welcome our new partner TalkOneRadio.
Alan Flowers and Roman Surroundings are helping us spread the word about Libraries For Kids, Int'l. 70 Pennington Dr. Studio 16D Bluffton, SC 29910
Paul Uhls
BNC Graphics
19 Seventh Ave, Bluffton, South Carolina 29910 https://bncgraphics.com/
Supplied business cards and rack cards
Dan Russin
Store Manager Morningstar Storage 1110 Fording Island Rd Bluffton, SC 29910
Donated a 10ft x 10ft space for us to store books.
Allison Debs Lewis
Territory Account Manager Staples Advantage www.staplesadvantage.com Staples has donated shipping boxes.
I don't want to bombard you with emails so click the "More Information" or "Not Interested" button.
Libraries For Kids is an IRS tax- exempt 501 (c) (3) organization, so donations of books and money are tax-deductible.
Mission: The mission of Libraries For Kids is help schools with little or no internet access establish libraries and enhance learning opportunities for their students.
Vision: Libraries For Kids envisions helping rural schools in developing countries around the world.
Website: https://libraries4kids.org/ Thanks for your support and prayers for Libraries For Kids, Int’l. For more information, please contact Roy Austin at 843-597-4826.
Coach Roy Austin Founder/Chair
