Photos have been removed from this issue because of a law in Kenya requiring strict documentation for photos and videos featuring school children.
Greetings! Here is the November 2021 issue of the Libraries For Kids, Int'l monthly e-newsletter. Thanks for your interest and support. QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Phillipians 2: 3-4
934 Libraries And Counting
In September I got to meet our awesome Operations Coordinator in Kenya, Wanjiku Francis, nickname "Ciku." When the books arrive she prepares the books for delivery and gets them to the schools. She continues to amaze us with her resourcefulness and persistence. Without her we wouldn't be able to do anything so keep her in your prayers.
Ciku recently reported that all the books in container number 4 had been delivered and that the books in all four containers have created libraries in 934 schools impacting approximately 200,000 children. When we started just 2 and 1/2 years ago we hoped to help a few schools. It is amazing how far Libraries For Kids, Int'l has come. But, there is more work to do as there are over 6,700 rural schools in Kenya. Please help us bring books to the approximately 1.5 million children in these rural schools.
Checks: If you prefer to donate with a check, please send it payable to Libraries For Kids, Int'l to PO Box 1013, Bluffton, SC 29910. We love checks - no credit card processing fees.
SCHOOL VISITS
In September I had the pleasure of visiting 9 schools in rural Kenya. Talking with teachers and students, and seeing first hand how the books had helped was truly inspiring. All the teachers told me that:
Enrollment is up. Students are coming to school early so they can read the books. Young children are motivated to learn English because when they see the pictures in the story books, they want to know what the story is. Scores on the national exams are up. In one school, parents are coming in the evening after they finish with their farms or herds to get more education.
Some of the schools we shipped books to had no books at all. the teacher would write on the blackboard and the kids have to remember.
Over the next few months I will introduce you to some students and teachers. One of those schools is Kongoni Primary School where all the students turned out to greet me and chant their school motto: "I Believe I Can." Sophie at Kongoni talked about her ambition to be a lawyer.
NEED A SPEAKER?
We love telling the Libraries For Kids, Int'l story. If your organization needs a speaker please contact us at books@libraries4kids.org or phone us at 843-597-4826. We look forward to sharing our story with your group.
SHORT TERM GOAL: 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN
4 Containers have been delivered to schools. Containers 5 & 6 will leave our warehouse in Kitui for distibution to schools on December 4, 2021 creating libraries in another 500 schools. Containers 7 & 8 are due to ship from Marietta, GA around the end of December and containers 9 & 10 are due to ship around the end of March. When these 10 containers are all delivered they will create libraries in approximately 2,500 schools impacting approximately 500,000 children.
But, there are over 6,700 rural schools in Kenya, approximately 1.5 million students. We need to fund another 17 containers.
Due to higher costs and Kenyan customs duties (we keep applying to get those duties waived) it now costs $19,000 to ship a container and another $6,000 to process, stamp, sort, and distribute the books after they arrive at our warehouse in Kitui Kenya. So, roughtly $25,000 to ship a container holding 40,000 books. Kenya is a large country about 85% the size of Texas. As we supply schools in the more remote counties the costs go up.
Your support can help over 1.5 million children get an education and have the opportunity for a better life.
Our long term vision is to help establish libraries in other countries in Africa and beyond.
Just a few dollars a month helps. You can set up a recurring monthly donation on our website.
Kongoni
Kongoni
Kongoni
Smile.Amazon For Kids
You can support Libraries For Kids, Int'l with your Amazon purchases. It's easy. Set up an account at Smile.Amazon.com. It is the same as a regular Amazon account except that you have the option to designate a charity. Please designate Libraries For Kids, Intl. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to your charity. The donation comes from Amazon, not you. This link will take you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of Libraries For Kids, Int'l.
When you place an order, login to Smile.Amazon and proceed as you normally would with any other Amazon purchase.
Thanks for your help.
PS - For more information about Libraries For Kids, Int'l visit our website or contact Roy Austin at books@libraries4kids.org or phone him at 843-597- 4826.
Consider a legacy gift as part of your estate planning.
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others is immortal.
Consider a legacy gift as part of your estate planning. 100 years from now no one will remember who we are or what we did. The only true legacy any of us can leave is the positive impact on the lives of others. ______________________________________
SPREAD THE WORD
Please, spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends and contacts, or posting excerpts from this newsletter, or our website, (copy/paste) on your social media accounts.
Together we can make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of children. CHARITY NAVIGATOR
Recently I was asked why Libraries For Kids, Int'l is not rated by Charity Navigator. We are listed on their site (click here)
but they do not rate a charity until after they have filed 3 consecutive 990's (tax returns). We are just 2 years old so they will not rate us until after we file our 990 for 2021 next year in 2022.
Lavington Jioni Rotary Club
We are excited to report that we have partnered with the Lavington Jioni Rotary Club in Nairobi, Kenya and one of their members, Ng'ang'a Wanjohi is now on our Board of Directors. They are assisting us with receipt, stamping, repacking, and delivering the container books to schools. They are also coordinating activities with all of the 40 other Rotary Clubs in Kenya to help Libraries For Kids, Int'l. Click here for their Facebook page.
What does your donation accomplish?
Libraries For Kids, Int'l offers not a handout, but a hand up. Parents in rural Kenya pay tuition for their children to go to school. It is a huge sacrifice when your income is derived from a subsistence farm or your herd of sheep, goats, or cattle. But it is a testament to their hunger for knowledge.
The Kenyan government gives each rural school $5.50 per student per year. For a school with a student population of 100 that is $550.00 per year to pay for the schools expenses (teacher salaries, textbooks, supplies, etc.) As a result, textbooks and libraries are lacking.
How can people lift themselves up and solve their problems without knowledge?
Your donations are helping children in Kenya, and hopefully someday other countries, to help themselves.
I hope you will consider Libraries For Kids, Int'l.
Media Attention
WTOC TV
Bluffton, SC Chamber of Commerce Spotlight
Please share these stories with your friends and on your social media platforms. Thanks
For more news about Libraries For Kids, Int'l visit our website
For videos please visit our YouTube channel by clicking HERE.
WHAT DO WE BELIEVE
We are not affiliated with any political party, political movement, social movement, or religious system. We exist to give children the opportunity to improve their knowledge through education.
We believe:
All children should have the opportunity to better themselves through education. Therefore, we dedicate ourselves to improving educational opportunities.
Children are children regardless of race, nationality, religion, sex, ethnic background, or any other delineation. Therefore, we pledge to help all children.
We exist to help improve educational opportunities for children. Therefore, we will not discriminate against any child for any reason.
Discrimination of any kind or on any basis is immoral and unacceptable. Therefore, we will not discriminate against any individual, employee, volunteer, or anyone else for any reason.
Helping people help themselves is our goal. Education is the best vehicle to help people help themselves.
Donor Honor Roll
Our Donor Honor Roll is based on cumulative contributions. No matter what level you are on, you are important. But your continuing support is also vital. We hope you will continue to contribute and gradually move to a higher level on the honor roll. A little each month and you will soon be at the next level. You can now set up a monthly donation HERE. You can also make a tribute gift in honor or memory of someone. There are a lot of new names on the honor roll this month and several people who have moved up to the next level.
So far we have received donations of money or services from 250 people or organizations located in:
Five Countries: Australia, France, Kenya, Northern Mariana Islands, USA
29 States: AK, AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IN, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Click Here to see the full donor Honor Roll
Here are the different honor roll levels and who is on each level. The Swahili word is in parenthesis.
Meerkat (Meerkat)
Donated books and/or money.
So far there are 150 Meerkats. Click
here [to see them all. Some of you are](/about/honor-roll/)
close to the Zebra level so please consider an additional donation.
Zebra (Punda Milia) - $100 or more
To date, there are 80 Zebras. Click
here to see them all
Impala (Pala) - $500 or more
Delores Ackerman Anonymous Eddie Federwisch Kirk Fox
Dot & Gary Jeger Jim & Karen Ralston Gary Shepard Rick & Cindy Jacobs Steve Richards Susan Kreick Don Wright PayPal Giving Fund Cargo Group LLC
Giraffe (Twiga) - $1,000 or more
Den & Jan Austin Benton Bowen Charleston CFO Council Ed & Betty Eich Elwood Barnes Kirk Fox Mickaylla McDonald JR & Betty Rutherford Janice Allinder-Anestes Ty & Suzanne Giesemann Ed Zimmerman Andrew & Lisa Davis
Oryx (Choroa)- $2,500 or more
Marilyn Moore Steve & Ruth Dexter Den & Jan Austin
Rhinoceros (Kifaru): $5,000 or more
Sable Antelope (Mfano Mzuri): $7,500 or more
Cheetah (Duma): $10,000 or more
Rick & Becky Harris
Leopard (Chui) - $25,000 or more
Dr. David Stallings
Lion (Simba) - $50,000 or more
Roy & Sharron Austin
Elephant (Tembo) - $100,000 or more
Maasai Club - $250,000 or more
The Maasai are among the foremost African ethnic groups and are known internationally because of their links to the national parks and reserves. They respect the land and are adapting to the changing world around them.
Sharron Austin Society - $500,000 or more
Sharron was an inspiration to Libraries For Kids, Int’l Founder Roy Austin. Her life philosophy was “Life is not the way it is supposed to be. It is the way it is. How you cope with it is what makes the difference.” Her smile, positive attitude, and ability to overcome numerous challenges in her life are an inspiration to all. She died on March 29, 2020. She is sorely missed but her spirit lives on. She was an enthusiastic supporter and donor to Libraries For Kids, Int’l.
MEET OUR PARTNERS
We are blessed to have several partners who have donated their time and services.
Barbara Bricker is the owner of Small Miracles Design and is an expert in designing unique graphic solutions for her clients. Barbara graciously donated her services to create our new logo, brochures, and postcards.
https://smallmiraclesdesign.com/
Paul Soviero, Owner, Next Move HHI has helped us find bookcases for our storage location.
http://www.nexmovehhi.com/index.php
James Worix, owner of Worix Media is helping us with IT and media editing services.
Paul Uhls BNC Graphics 19 Seventh Ave, Bluffton, South Carolina 29910 https://bncgraphics.com/
Supplied business cards and rack cards. Printing our brochures and business cards at cost.
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 and packing tape
Alan Flowers and Alan Kwiatkowski are helping us spread the word about Libraries For Kids, Int'l. 70 Pennington Dr. Studio 16D Bluffton, SC 29910 The Stations call-in # 843-800-1492; Office # 843- 505-8513 https://www.talkoneradio.com/
