Hope in 60 Seconds: The Impact of Your Support

Exciting October News: Full Story Below

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic updates with you! Thanks to the incredible support from the Grand Circle Foundation, we successfully funded an entire container at our spring charity event, and it has just been delivered! There are many students and communities in the Amboseli region now blessed from this delivery. But that’s not all— another container is ready to leave port, and Book Distribution Partners is loading three more to ship shortly after the holidays.

Once these three containers are complete, we’ll unveil two monumental milestones that will elevate our mission to new heights. We can’t wait to share this excitement with you!

But wait—there’s more! Laura received a heartfelt email from two visionary supporters who visited Kenya last month, eager to explore our schools. This is a rare opportunity, and we were thrilled to make it happen! Here’s what they had to say about their inspiring experience…

Four adults stand in a row in front of the painted sign of Kimana Primary School: a woman with long fair hair, a man in a white shirt and blue trousers, a woman in a black top and yellow skirt, and a man in a grey t-shirt

"We had the opportunity to donate at a fundraiser in the spring of 2024, and later, while planning a trip to Kenya for Safari in September, we decided last minute to visit a local school supported by the organization.

The experience was unforgettable. The children greeted us with such warmth, surrounding us upon arrival and eagerly shaking our hands. We also had the chance to sit with five students who shared their favorite books and future aspirations, which was both heartwarming and inspiring. They even provided a list of books the school needs, giving us a much deeper understanding of their educational needs. This experience was incredibly fulfilling, and we are committed to continuing our support through future donations."

- Richard Hoeksema & Greta Sandberg

Thank you to all of our supporters for being an essential part of not only our mission but the vision of Libraries for Kids, Int’l!

More Exciting Updates Await!

Thanks to all of your generous contributions at our April charity event, we have funded a total of five containers to date. This remarkable achievement has propelled our mission forward and made a real difference in the lives of children in Kenya.

The Grand Circle Foundation funded an entire container at our fundraiser, and below you can see a little bit from this journey. This container, filled with vital resources for these rural schools, was stamp sorted and delivered before the end of September.

We are thrilled to report that we currently have one container with over 50,000 books inside ready to go and three more that will be loaded and shipped shortly after the holidays. These efforts directly support our mission and ensure that we can continue providing essential resources to the children who need them most.

As you read in our 60-second read, we had the rare privilege of receiving an email from Richard Hoeksema and Greta Sandberg, who were headed to Kenya and wanted to see some of our schools!

Who are they? Greta Sandberg and Richard Hoeksema reside on Saint Helena Island, SC, where books are a central part of their lives. They are passionate about reading, often losing themselves in mysteries, captivated by thrilling adventures, and drawn to the depth of history and global knowledge. Greta is semi-retired, having built a diverse career with roles at Domino’s Pizza and IBM, as well as an entrepreneur, founding businesses in short-term vacation rentals, long-term rentals, and property management for homeowner associations. Richard, a retired applied geophysicist, university researcher and instructor, science-technology writer and editor, as well as having worked with two startups, now assists Greta in managing their property ventures. They have a love for travel, and during their journey, they visited Kimana Primary School.

This school received books from Libraries for Kids, and coincidentally, Anna Taiyiai (the woman who inspired the entire idea for Libraries for Kids) was there to greet Richard and Greta upon their arrival. They loved spending time with the students and said they feel like “their kids” after having more detailed conversations about their needs and but more importantly - their dreams. They came home asking how we can get more books to the students! We have thousands of rural schools still waiting for us to establish their first Libraries for Kids library, and Ciku and the Kenyan team have been hard at work. You can watch a brief clip of one of her latest journeys and hear the hurdles they overcome to establish these libraries. - LINK HERE -

This is a rare opportunity for Libraries for Kids to showcase the impact of our mission— “boots on the ground style”—to our supporters! We are excited to share their testimonial, along with deeper insights into who they are and why they are passionate about our work.

We are eager to kick off the holiday season with Giving Tuesday, our “Ignite Change Raffle”, and the launch of our 2025 - “A Night Under the African Stars” fundraiser! Stay tuned.

One last thank you to everyone for being an integral part of our mission. We are creating a brighter future for the children in Kenya.

A group of about six people in red and dark clothes stand on red earth in front of a blue and white striped tent beside a truck, with stacked plastic crates and boxes at their side, as the Grand Circle Foundation container is loaded — Above: Loading the Grand Circle Foundation container for school deliveries.

A selfie taken in a classroom: a person with dark twisted hair and glasses in the foreground, with a woman and a man seated behind, looking toward a wall chart — Above: Anna at Kimana Primary School with Richard and Greta. They shared their experience and saw the students’ eagerness and desire for access to more books! Also, their love for reading and the hunger to learn new things.

Discover the Heart of Our Organization!

Explore the incredible impact you’ve helped us achieve. Visit our website to learn more about these key areas by following the links below:

How You Can Help Move Our Mission Forward?

Many of you ask how to support our mission. Here are a just few ways you can truly create an impact with us:

Forward this newsletter to at least one person you know to help spread the word!
Make a donation to directly fund our program.
Volunteer your time to join us in our efforts.
Share our story on social media and tell friends and family, so we can reach more hearts!