Pages of Change: How My Journey Opened a New World of Compassion
My name is Sahana Ravikumar and I am a Sophomore at Simi Valley High School. This fall, I had the incredible opportunity to help collect over 500 books for the African Library Project (ALP), which sent these books to Midida Mixed Secondary School in Suna-Migori, Kenya. With the support of my community, the Simi Valley Library, and local community donors who donated funds and books for shipment, we gathered and shipped books across the world to a school in need.
In a letter from the student of Kenya , he described how difficult it was to study with limited access to books. His school library had very few resources, and most of them were outdated. Despite his love for learning, finding books that could help him dream big especially in subjects like advanced science was nearly impossible.
It became clear to me that our small effort of collecting and sending books could open up a world of possibilities for these students. Even though the process of sorting and shipping the books was challenging, I realized that every book we sent could be a stepping stone toward a brighter future for a child in Kenya.
This experience taught me how one small act donating a book could have a lasting impact on a child’s life. By sharing the gift of knowledge, we are helping to shape the future of children in Kenya, one book at a time.
The Joy of Volunteering.
My name is Gohith and I have participated in ALP three times. Each time, I had improved drastically.
My first experience in ALP was in early 2023. During this time, I was very new to volunteering and thus felt nervous. For this reason, I joined my community team and took the initiative. I raised books by buying second-hand books from book sales for cheap. This gave me some experience with the project.
I learned a lot the first time I did ALP and used that knowledge for the second time. I began collecting books by posting advertisements on social media. I received a lot of positive reception, as lots of people were willing to donate. I also tried speaking to my middle school, but they already had a different book drive running.
Another thing that I had tried, was to ask all of my family friends for books if they had any. Lots of them gave me books too. Using these methods, I reached my book goal. I brought all the books to my house and sorted them into 6 individual boxes. At this point, it is essential to emphasize just how much my parents have contributed to this project.
Their encouragement was a lot. They inspired me to work more, not just on this project, but across my entire day. This improved my self-confidence. My parents also took the liberty of driving me around to collect books from donating people.
When I did ALP again in 2024, I registered to contribute 500 books to a library in Botswana. I wanted to do all the work myself without any involvement from my parents, get all the books via donation and not buy any, and raise a substantial amount of money so my parents don't have to pay all the shipping charges out of pocket. I started a GoFundMe to raise money. I also called all the libraries near me to ask if they had any books that they were willing to donate to my cause. By putting in all of this work, I succeeded in all of my goals, thus feeling very happy. That is the thing about volunteering. You will always feel satisfaction while volunteering since you know that your work and effort will be multiplied and turned into happiness felt by people in need.
From this whole experience, I have learned so many things. I knew the importance of books and that simple things shouldn't be taken for granted. I also gained lots of teamwork experience, volunteering experience, and time management skills. I also realized the importance of any person in the lives of others. So, thank you to all who helped me!
Participating in multiple book drives with the African Library Project (ALP) has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I've been involved in drives for schools in Botswana, Kenya, and Uganda, and each one has opened my eyes to the powerful role that books can play in shaping lives.
While the work itself is physically demanding—collecting, sorting, packing, and shipping the books—the impact is truly fulfilling. It's hard to describe the feeling of knowing that books you once considered old or unwanted are being sent to schools where they will be cherished and put to good use.
The book drives have not only connected me to these far-reaching communities but also helped me become more globally aware. It’s eye-opening to realize how something as simple as a book can change the educational landscape for children in developing countries. These students no longer have to rely solely on a limited set of textbooks; they now have access to diverse stories, cultures, and ideas that open up new possibilities for their futures.
I am proud to support ALP’s mission to promote literacy in Africa, and I’m excited to continue my involvement in future drives. If you're considering joining or organizing a book drive, I highly recommend it. The experience is both a lot of work and incredibly rewarding, knowing that your efforts are making a lasting difference.
Every child deserves the chance to read and learn, but not everyone has access to books. That’s where the African Library Project comes in—bringing literacy to those who need it most!
In just a few months with the Project, I’ve seen how donated books are sparking a love for reading and opening new opportunities in Kenya (where I'm based). These books don’t just sit on shelves—they inspire curiosity and bring joy.
It’s amazing to be part of this mission to spread the joy of reading and change lives, one book at a time!
Several years ago, I learned about the African Library Project and added the organization to my annual giving list. Since then I had the good fortune to meet the founder and begin volunteering to sort and pack books, most recently for new libraries in Uganda. The organization has established over 4000 libraries with more than 4 million books! One woman's idea has resulted in this incredible achievement. I take pleasure in knowing my small contributions will benefit children on the other side of the globe.
It brings me great joy to help the African Library Project! I know my work is going to benefit children in Africa, and it is a pleasure to imagine their joy when they receive the books. The whole organization is smoothly run, and there is always help available, if needed. I love it!
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We are happy to be donors for this nonprofit organization, and have watched it grow since the idea was conceived. I get goose bumps to picture all the books being shipped to Africa, and the hope and learning they bring to these communities. It is truly a simple concept to share the joy of reading, and yet takes much work to deliver. Another great bonus is that a small group of people; families, schools, etc., can collect 1,000 used paperbacks, and start a library so very far away. It's magical!
I am Yashwanth Oruganti from Moorpark, California, USA, this summer, I had the opportunity to collect, sort, and ship children's books to Botswana, Africa. I started doing this initiative in 2019. In the past 5 years, I used to do this as a community group but this year, I decided to take on this project with my sister and continue doing it in a group. It all started when I learned about a nonprofit organization working to establish libraries in places in Botswana to promote literacy among children. I was immediately drawn to the cause and wanted to help in any way I could. I reached out to my friends, local libraries, and the local community to ask for book donations. At first, we were only able to collect 100 or so books, but weeks rolled by as we couldn’t find any more books we frantically searched 6 to 7 libraries but one fine day as we were going to a local temple we stopped at the Newbury Park library on the way, and the librarian there was so kind and generous that she gave us almost 300 books! Finally, we went to the Simi Valley Library and collected the last 100 books to make a grand total of 500 books! After collecting we spent hours sorting through the books, separating them by age group and genre to make sure that each library would have a great collection, sometimes I would stumble upon my favorite children’s books too. Once the books were sorted, I worked with my friends and family to arrange shipping to Botswana. It was a challenging process, but we got it done with their support and help. Knowing that these books would have a positive impact on the lives of children in Botswana was incredibly inspiring. I felt grateful to have been a part of such a huge project, and I hope to continue supporting initiatives that promote literacy and education in underserved communities. This project has really opened my eyes to the power of community and the difference even the tiniest act can make in other people's lives. In the future, I will continue to definitely do this project again.
From a young age, I have always been a book-obsessed kid who could never put down a good book. While everyone said they preferred the movie over the book, I always believed the book was better. For me, books are an escape from reality, a gateway to worlds crafted by my imagination. They have also been a great source of knowledge—sometimes introducing me to new words, and other times teaching me valuable morals to apply in my daily life. I joined ALP with the goal of giving other kids the same escape I experienced.
I worked with my team to collect books from our local libraries, keeping meticulous records of book sales and reaching out to inquire about any books they were planning to discard. We often visited school libraries, where we gathered unwanted books that could find a new home. In addition, we reached out to neighbors, encouraging them to donate any old or unused books they had lying around. As we collected these treasures, we sorted them by grade level, ensuring that each book was in good condition and appropriate for younger readers. This process not only helped us curate a diverse selection of books but also allowed us to share our excitement and knowledge about literature with one another. We packed boxes of books carefully, making sure they were easy to carry and that they would survive the trip to their final destination. Through our hard work, we bonded as a team and shared gratitude for the lives we live.
My team and I collected 4,500 books and established nine libraries from the past three years. We shared the same goals and were fueled by the motivation to get these books into the hands of children who needed them.
My name is Vanisha Mansabdar and I have had a great opportunity to be a part of an excellent team at Simi Valley. It was an amazing experience as a volunteer for the African Library project, it was truly enlightening as it taught me compassion, mindfulness and gratitude for what we have. I am elated to know that the books I collected will prove useful to the children in Africa. I am overjoyed to be part of such a caring and beautiful project which challenges me to do my best.
My Name is Bhuvana Bhamidipati. Being a part of the African Library Project for the past 4 years has allowed me to become more compassionate, mindful, and organized. Knowing that the books I have collected will benefit children’s education and make them happy teaches me the responsibilities and value of the global community. I am delighted to be part of the initiative and want to continue participating in African Library Project book drives to make the world a better place.
My name is Anagha Vishnubhotla. I am 14 years old and I'm a freshman at Santa Susana High School. I have been involved with the African Library Project for about 2-3 years now, and my passion for it has only ever grown. I first got involved with it when my older brother started participating in meetings and such. I learned that the organization helps underprivileged communities in Africa and provides them with books and libraries. I started attending meetings around my community and together, we've packed thousands of books and shipped over hundreds of boxes. I remember thinking about how much of a good cause it is because all the books that are sitting somewhere in your house, unused, untouched, and forgotten can be sent somewhere where they will be cherished and used to enhance education. I once saw a video of our boxes being shipped and kids carrying the books back to their schools and communities. This really fuelled my passion and interest in continuing with the organization as I could really see the impact it had on communities. Since then, I have actively been going to meetings, collecting books, packing them, and shipping them. I also help out with fundraising for our projects. I help with lemonade stands, selling crocheted items, selling baked goods, and more. The money we raise from this goes to help cover the shipping cost when we go to ship the boxes. Overall, my experience with the African Library Project has helped me realize that I can help make an impact in the world, and I’ve learned a lot on the way. I hope to continue to be a part of the African Library Project and continue to help people every day.
My experience with African Library Project has been like no other; it never felt like work. It always felt fun and satisfying knowing that I was helping so many underprivileged children who loved books and literature as much as I did. All the other volunteers would agree with me; we all thoroughly enjoyed our experience picking out books for children to read and learn from. It was fun working together to find, sort, and package books. It was an absolute pleasure doing this work knowing that underprivileged children would benefit so heavily from these books, learning and absorbing all the words and images that I had loved so much during my childhood.
I imagined all the wide-eyed, eager schoolchildren opening up the packages and looking at the multitudes of books we had gathered for them and I wanted to tell them that more would come, this wasn't it. African Library Project was the purveyor, the gift that would keep on giving. More and more children in underprivileged areas were brought closer and closer to the level of knowledge and literature that they deserve with every fundraiser, every book drive. Each book, each page, was a gateway to new worlds and new information that no one had ever seen before. Every book was a beacon of knowledge, where people would learn about different ideas and perspectives from around the world; different cultures, lifestyles, etc.
Packing each box with the team members turned a boring, mundane task into a really fun experience. We all enjoyed picking out the perfect books for everyone to read up in Uganda, and we really cherished every moment working together. The true value in this experience lies in the moments we made together and the fact that, again, we weren't just doing charity work; we were creating opportunities for children to get the same education and knowledge that was so available to people in the suburban US. The experience grounded me; learning that so many of these books weren't valued enough by people here and then realizing how much they would be cherished in another part of the world opened my eyes to a new level of gratitude, for the things I already have are not the same for everyone else. I returned from this experienced with a renewed appreciation for not just books, but everything that I had available around me. The team members also agreed; we all felt amazing after doing good deeds and making life even a little better for children abroad. We sincerely hope that the children in Uganda enjoy these books and appreciate them for years to come, and we want them to know that more will come from African Library Project. I and the rest of the team thank African Library Project for this opportunity, for grounding us and bringing us back down to earth.
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My name is Neil Gupta and I'm a 10th grader from California. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the African Library Project (ALP for short) because it reflected my lifelong passion for reading, and I loved the idea of sharing it with others. This organization collects books and sorts them into different reading levels. The books are then packed and shipped to schoolchildren in Africa, giving them the opportunity to share important experiences with literature and get an education. Working with everyone was really fun, the other volunteers were great people and made my involvement with the organization much more enjoyable. Helping others is a huge passion of mine, and books are gifts that everyone deserves to have.
Hi, my name is Meghana Yamajala. I have participated in the African Library Project for the past 4 years. It gives me immense personal satisfaction working on various projects. So far I have collected and donated over 2500 books. I have participated in both individual and group projects. I have set up several full and half libraries over the last few years in Ghana, Botswana, Uganda, Lesotho, Malawi, and Kenya. This year in 2024, I have worked on two group projects in setting up libraries at Kgamane Primary School, and Machaeng Primary School in Botswana.
The quote from Ronald Reagan “A great leader is not necessarily the one who accomplishes the most. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things" motivated me to work on ALP projects. The ALP experience taught me leadership, compassion, empathy, vision, planning, teamwork, delegation, and leading from the front.
Millions of children are trying to decide between eating a meal and going to school. Being able to attend school and learn is something for which one should be grateful. We have a responsibility to pull up and carry people who are in need. I became aware of how fortunate I am to have access to a school and books when I first read about ALP. I was compelled to speak up and do anything I could to support the children in Africa.
Seeing the smiling faces of children when they receive the books I send is a treasure to cherish. It gives me satisfaction that my efforts could make a positive impact on someone else's life.
Hi, my name is Haasini Suresh and I had the best time participating with the African Library Project (ALP). I'm in 6th grade and I just joined so I was very new to this process. I was very excited to participate because I wanted to join immediately after I heard about it. It was a fast process, but it was easy because we had an organizer for this event and everyone was cooperative. Our organizer's name was Ms. Sunita. She helped us by telling us what to do and how to do it. She helped us stack the books into the boxes and kindly helped us if we were struggling. I am so grateful to her for including and helping us in this project, so thank you so much for helping.
We first dumped all the books into a big pile, and don't worry we sorted them all out! We then listened to the instructions and followed. We had to stack as many books as possible into boxes and make sure they weren't to heavy because we knew that people were going to be carrying them. We all worked in teams and that made it easier because we split the jobs up. The person organizes it into the box, the person who brings the books over and the person who sorts books by their sizes. At first, it was difficult for me but I gradually got better at it.
The African Library Project was a great experience for me! I was incredibly lucky I could help African kids, and I was glad I could be a part of this. I myself am interested in reading books, and helping other kids be able to do that brought great joy with me. All in all, ALP is a great organization and I would like to say thank you to them for an amazing opportunity.
Hello,my name is Vidyut Vignesh and I am in 6th grade at Hale Middle School. My experience with the African Library Project was very memorable. Even though all we did was collect books and package them, we had a wonderful time helping each other sort the books out. I am already really fond of reading, so this was the perfect program for me. I immediately started collecting the books to donate, and I searched everywhere to find books. This searching was also a great opportunity to learn more and meet new people. Overall, I had a great time with the ALP program and will definitely join for any other opportunities.
Hi, My name is Sanjeev Akundi. I’m a 9th Grader from Southern California. For as long as I can remember, helping people in need has always been a dream of mine, and being able to work with the African Book Library is a blessing. The African Book Library, or the ALP for short, has helped me reach the lives of many people in this amazing journey. Each book drive the ALP sends out changes even more lives of people who cannot access that type of education and knowledge easily. The importance of books can never be understated, and I am truly greatful to be apart of an organization like this.
I have currently done 4 book drives, donated over 500 books, fundraised 200+ dollars, and packaged/shipped books from here to multiple countries in Africa. I hope that through this cause, every person on every edge of the entire planet can be able to access books and education. The ALP is amazing.
My name is Sreyas Durbha and for me, the African Library Project was my first step into a more leadership-oriented position. I had never been much of a leader, but having to communicate with people and organize my own book drive set me on a path that I am sure will lead to success. More importantly than this, however, we were able to send over 500 books halfway across the world to children who did not have access to materials such as these. It is my hope that these children, similar to me, will also be set on a path that will lead to academic success and joy for learning. Knowledge, in my opinion, is something that should be available to all people, and the fact that it is not is a shame. Book drives didn't really interest me in the past, and there are aspects that disinterest me now. Despite this, I still feel good knowing that there are people who will benefit from my actions, and that I am making a difference, all thanks to the African Library Project.
My personal experience with the ALP Project has been amazing so far. This is my first year being a volunteer for the ALP Project, and i e loved every part of it. Knowing that my volunteering work is going to a great cause makes me even more motivated to get things finished. I am looking forward to continuing my volunteering work next year as well.
I am Faiza Shaik, and I have been participating in African Library Project book drives since last year. I am now in 5th grade at Brookside Elementary School. I enjoy participating in the African Library Project. It is very fun to collect books from the neighborhoods and local libraries and help our team organize and pack them by grade. ALP helps kids who do not have access to education get books and learn new things. I hope they go on to become great students and people. I could not have been able to do any of this amazing work without the help of the lead volunteers, they were super helpful and nice to me. I hope other people also recognize the need and voulnteer then it would be truly helpful to the students in need of books.
Hi, My name is Sravya Durbha, and I have been participating in African Library Project book drives since I was in Middle School. I am now a 9th grader at Santa Susana High School. Through my experience in ALP I learned that elementary, middle, and high school are words that come easily to us now, but for some people around the world, and maybe even around the places in which we reside there are people who don't have access to those. People who would do near to anything for as good an education as we take for granted so easily. These book drives really inspire me and a lot of other people to help this gift of education, and even just the joy of reading reach those who want it and need it. ALP has been a big part of my journey as a volunteer, and has really taught me how to work not for just hours to put on applications, but for the people who need my help. To help those in need just to help them, and not for anything in return but the joy that it brings. It makes me feel very happy to be a part of this organization and help deliver such an essential peice of someone's life to them. And I am very excited to continue working with ALP and other organizations to continue lighting sparks of joy in children's hearts all around the world when they open a book and get sucked right into it for the next time.
It has been such a wonderful experience working with the African Library Project, giving children the opportunity to experience the magical world of reading. Through the past libraries and the current library I have worked on, I have learned to improve my leadership skills as an individual while collaborating with others. Learning to collaborate through various interactions, such as through email and in-person, has helped me get out of my comfort zone and work not only as an individual but as a team, gaining confidence and communication skills. This experience has also helped me grow as an individual while also helping me to better know and connect with my community to support a wonderful organization working towards a meaningful cause to give brilliant children a chance to explore the alternate universe of reading. While we can take our access to books and knowledge granted at times, one book can mean the world to another person.
Hello I am Avantika. I am a freshman in high school. My journey with ALP has been amazing. Everyone was kind and made me feel welcome. This is a great cause to support and I am really happy I was able to help.
Hello, I am Aihika Devarakonda, who is a 6th grader. My journey for donating books just started. My experience in doing this project with my friends made me feel proud and happy. When I initially started collecting the books from own book collection I found so many memories and stories I read so many times with my family.
I hope the person who is reading these books make them more memorable
I would thank all my friends and volunteers who helped me to do this project. It was so fun and easy for us when we’re packing all those books.
I am so, grateful for ALP to give us this opportunity.
-Sincerely, Aihika.
My involvement with the Africa Library Project has been a deeply rewarding journey. By working to establish libraries in rural and underserved African communities, I’ve had the opportunity to help provide access to books and educational resources for children and adults alike. This initiative not only helps promote literacy but also fosters a love for learning, which can transform lives. Contributing to this project allowed me to collaborate with passionate individuals and organizations, and through our collective efforts, we’ve helped empower communities with the tools they need to shape their own futures. The experience has been a reminder of the power of education in fostering growth and creating opportunities. - Vishwa Madiraju.
Hello, I am Sarfaraz ShaikMohammad, a student in 11th-grade at Oak Park High School with a love for books and spreading awareness about negative situations. There are lots of not so good situations around the world, but the one that really connects with me is people who don’t have access to books in general. Books have always been a big part of my life and I want other people to experience what I experienced too.
The African Library Program (ALP for short) is a great way to spread the experience of helping people to have access to books. ALP program collect books across the world and send them to schools in Africa that need libraries or even just books so that they can have a proper education and have the ability to enjoy reading.
This was my third book drive and it was a very fun and interesting experience, the ability to help people out is something that I am proud of. While this did take a little while to complete, it was really worth it. Going around to different libraries and trying to find enough books to meet the quota and and packing them in boxes is something that I will never forget.
The reason why I joined this program is so that I could help out with some of the world’s most overlooked problems. Helping children read or even enjoy books is an amazing thing to support. Although I couldn’t have done it without the help of the adults that organized this and Mrs. Sunitha Boppudi, It was an amazing experience to contributed to this project.
To sum this all up, this program’s goal is to help the people around you as best as you can. People are supported by others in their daily lives, so why not go one step further and help lots of people. I have to thank ALP for giving me this opportunity to help the world, so thank you ALP!!!
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Hello, I am Sarfaraz Shaik Mohammad, a student in 10th-grade with a passion for books and spreading awareness about negative situations. There are lots of negative situations in the world, but the one that really hits home for me is people who don’t have access to a library or even books in general. Books have always been a big part of my life and I want other kids to experience what I experienced too.
The African Library Project (ALP for short) is a great way to spread the experience of books to people who don’t have access to them. They collect lots of books and then send them to schools in Africa that need libraries or even just books so that they can have a proper education and have the ability to enjoy reading. This is my first book drive and it was a very unique and enjoyable experience, the ability to help people out is always something that you can be proud of.
The reason why I joined this program was so that I could help out with some of the world’s most forgotten problems. Helping children be able to read or even enjoy books is an amazing thing to support. Although I couldn’t have done it without the help of the adults that organized this, Mrs. Sunitha Boppudi and Miss. Pamela. It was an amazing experience to contributed to this project.
To sum this all up, this program’s goal is to just help the people around you as best as you can. People are supported by others in their daily lives, so why not go one step further and help lots of people. I have to thank ALP for giving me this opportunity to help the world, so thank you ALP!!!
My path to donating books to libraries has just started. Hi, my name is Kishan Chidipudi and I am a 9th grader at Santa Susana High School. I recently participated in donating 1000 books to two libraries. I was able to figure out about this program at AMC. After a over a month of collecting books. We decided to meet. We then organized a thousand books into boxes. Even though the boxes may not have been perfect and I struggled a bit on the packing. Thanks to the coordinator and parents we were able to complete our goal. In the process we all had fun packing all of the books. At the same time I helped libraries in Africa. I look forward to doing and improving in the near future.
Hi, my name is Haridev Ponswaminathan. As an 8th grader, I recently participated in the African Library Project. The entire process was smooth: we gathered the books and then shipped them to African countries. That’s it! Anyway, I loved this experience. Being an avid reader, I could relate to the cause, so when I heard about this project, I immediately signed up and started collecting books.
It was truly an eye-opening experience to collect books from friends and family and donate them. From this I learned how to organize events like this. Our group consisted of 11 people, and each of us collected 100 books to donate. We then met up to start packing the books. First, we categorized them and prepared the shipping boxes. After hours of hard work, we packed all the books into 10 sturdy boxes. We went home feeling a great sense of pride.
In conclusion, participating in the African Library Project was an amazing experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely be doing it again next year!
My name is Ayana Cheedu and as an 8th grader, I recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in the African Library Project (ALP) for the first time. This experience, which involved organizing and shipping books to Africa, was both eye-opening and inspiring. It had a profound impact on me and sparked a deep desire to engage in more humanitarian activities.I discovered the ALP through a few friends who were already involved with the project. The mission of the organization is to provide books and educational resources to communities in Africa that lack easy access to these essential tools. This goal resonated deeply with me because, as an avid reader, I understand firsthand the joy and value that books can bring. The idea of sharing this joy with children who might not otherwise have the chance to enjoy reading was both exciting and motivating. The African Library Project focuses on collecting and distributing books to help create and improve libraries in various parts of Africa. This is particularly important because many children in these communities face significant barriers to accessing educational materials. I was thrilled at the chance to contribute to a cause that aligns so closely with my own love for reading and my belief in the transformative power of education.
My role in the project involved several important tasks. First, I helped sort through donated books. This required us to categorize them based on their content and condition. We organized the books into different groups, making sure that each category was well-represented in the shipments. Next, we carefully packed the books into boxes. This step was crucial, as we needed to ensure that the books would arrive in good condition. Working with a dedicated team, we coordinated our efforts to make sure every box is packed efficiently and accurately. Throughout this process, I had the chance to develop and refine my communication and organizational skills. Collaborating with others required clear and effective communication, as we had to ensure that everyone was on the same page regarding our tasks and goals. Organizing the books and packing them required attention to detail and a systematic approach. These skills will be valuable in many aspects of my life and future endeavors. The impact of the African Library Project went beyond the practical tasks we performed. It was incredibly rewarding to know that the books we were preparing would make a difference in the lives of children who might otherwise have limited access to such resources. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of education and the significant role it plays in opening doors to new opportunities. Access to books and learning materials can help bridge gaps and provide children with the tools they need to succeed.
Participating in the African Library Project has been a transformative experience for me. It has deepened my passion for helping others and making a positive impact in the world. The project has shown me the importance of service and how even small contributions can lead to significant change. I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved in such a meaningful cause and am excited to continue finding ways to contribute to my community and beyond. This experience has inspired me to actively seek out more opportunities to help those in need and to use my skills and interests to make a difference. I hope to continue supporting educational initiatives and to contribute to making the world a better place through my efforts. The African Library Project has demonstrated how collective actions can lead to positive change, and I am eager to apply the lessons I have learned to future projects and endeavors.
Africa Library Project has allow me to give back , what others did for me.
I learn first hand how books can change and shape our life.
I am from Argentina, I worked in Cerebral Palsy Foundation. There, I found English books about Physical Therapy, Medicine. I did know these books and magazine existed . These open my eyes , to a new world of knowledge
existed. I learned later , that not all the world books are translated.
I could read the English books about my speciality which helped me to be a better clinician .
These books taught , that there was more that I could know . my husband and I decide to come United States to continue
studying and working.
I did it !
The books open the possibility, as I knew the language . But until I had access to the books I didn’t know how useful they were
That is why I am so passionate about being part of the ALP and to be able to impact directly the children by creating libraries , where children will travel the world , deepened their knowledge of what they want to know , open themselves to the possibility of dreaming a better future
Like happened to me !
Up to today, I have sent 23libraries , a total of 18.604 books.
and I will love continue as much as I can.
I trust this organization because
African Library Project has show me that
the books arrived the intended school!
Thank you ALP for allowing me to be a partner in this enterprise that ,is very dear to me
Lily
I’ve always loved reading as a kid and I want to make books more accessible to kids, like they were to me when I was younger. Reading has a huge impact on children’s development. It made me so much more creative and knowledgeable. Since English was my third language when I was younger, reading greatly improved my grammar and vocabulary. Reading different types of books always sparked my imagination and being able to give the same opportunities to kids in Africa makes me so happy.
- Trinanya Bangera, California
Hi! My name is Anishka Jain. I am a senior in high school. I enjoy working with the African library project because it helps me help others. I also enjoy working with other people who also want to help. My goal is to help others access book who are in need of them in Africa and help them get an education through reading. This is also a good way to help reuse old books instead of throwing them away. Books can help educate kids and help with their creativity and imagination and it is important that everyone gets the opportunity to experience that. This ALP ( African Library project) made me realize how books that are made readily available to us can be taken for granted when there are many kids that are deprived of them. I am so glad that I got the opportunity to contribute to this great cause.
My name is Anusha Grewal and I am in 9th grade. I only recently learned about African Library Project, maybe a few months ago when my mom had first forwarded me the website. I read more into the mission and I truly fell in love with what this organization was about. Provided books and knowledge to those in need and being able to donate old books that I myself have read before and hopefully giving those kids a chance to smile. I began by sorting my own books which I had a lot of since I have loved books from a young age. I also went looking at local libraries when they had book sales so I could purchase book for about a dollar or so in order to contribute even more. I did this first library with a few other girls and we each brought 100 books in order to form a half library. The day we got together and sorted then put all the books into each box, I felt extremely proud and accomplished that we were donating to such a worthy and beautiful cause. This organization taught me humility and compassion when trying to give equal opportunity to those in a tough situation. I plan to continue working with African Library Project and help bring thousands of more books to Africa.
Hi, my name is Saanvi and I'm a 10th grader in California. I started volunteering for the African Library Project (ALP) about two years ago. I believe that books can help individuals grow by giving them a gateway to knowledge and imagination. The goal of the African Library Project is to send books to different schools in Africa, where students don't have much access to books. By this project, we can make a difference in the lives of the students in Africa by giving them the opportunity to grow and learn.
I joined this program because I read a lot and I understood how books played an important role in shaping me as a person. I believe that books should be accessible to students around the world because they provide a wealth of information on various subjects and improve critical thinking skills.
This program's goal is to help students in Africa gain access to books. Helping children gain access to these books and giving them the opportunity to have a proper education brings me so much joy. I have to thank Mrs. Sunitha Boppudi for giving me the opportunity to participate in this project.
Hi, I’m Rithik Kompelli, a 10th grader from California. For me, books have always been a way to expand my knowledge and learn new things.
It's been an amazing journey with the African Book Library (ALP). I believe in the power of books to change lives, and this is my second book drive with ALP. Sharing books and spreading knowledge makes me happy because I know the kids we donate these books to have never had any opportunities to explore and read through a variety of books like this. The impact of books on who we become cannot be understated, and that's why I am happy to be part of this nonprofit.
I liked collecting books for the African Library Project because it was a way to help a whole community by just packaging and allocating books. I also enjoyed learning about how the books I donate will help increase literacy in Africa. I hope that the books I collected will help to open up new worlds for the children who read them.
I have been sending libraries to various countries in Africa through the African Library Project since 2021 and am currently working on my 30th library. The staff are quick to respond and outline all of the details about how to conduct a successful book drive. The process is clear and the volunteers do a great job of sending reminders to help you accomplish your goals. I love receiving photos and emails from the schools and seeing how the books I boxed in my garage are now in the hands of children on another continent. This is such a fantastic organization and I feel so grateful to be a small piece of a great work.
Hi, I’m Logan. I started volunteering at African Library Project this year, and I’m on the Marketing and Communications Committee. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working with wonderful people for a wonderful cause. As someone who grew up learning about the world through books, I wanted to share this experience with kids who don’t have regular access to books. I’m so happy and excited to be a part of a team that helps stretch the limits and imaginations of children through books. And on such a large scale! African Library Project is truly a great example of people coming together from many places and backgrounds to share something so critical as literacy. Grateful to be a part of this effort!
Hi! My name is Lakshmi Sowmika Talanki. Donating books can help in multiple ways such as improving literacy and providing reading materials to those who need it. I heard about the program through some friends of mine and was curious as to how it worked. After looking around the website, I learned more about this great organization. I was inspired by all the donors and helpers and their stories. I knew that I had to help out. The African Library staff is so nice and it’s fun working with others to help reach our goals and donate books. This is an amazing way to reuse books instead of just throwing them away. I have donated about 500 books so far and plan to donate more in the future.
I really enjoyed working with this non-profit and other local volunteers to help support libraries across Africa by supplying books. The entire experience helped my confidence and motivation rise since this work will help numerous people throughout the next few years. Since this was my first time doing this type of volunteering, I had a few questions about the libraries and about the books and exactly how and where in particular they get shipped. My mentor for this project helped me by answering all of these questions with great detail. But most of all, I liked the environment of the meetings. Everyone has a positive attitude and were happy helping other people.
-Gohith
Hello, I'm Srihas Maddali from California, and I'm a 10th-grade student with a passion for creating positive change in society through education. Books have always been my gateway to new ideas and perspectives. They've shaped my character and fueled my pursuit of knowledge.
African Book Library(ALP) embodies my belief in the power of books to transform lives. It's been a memorable journey, joining forces with ALP to spread the gift of knowledge. I am part of two successful book drives so far with ALP, the joy of sharing books, which can profoundly impact who we become, has been incredible.
My drive to help others stems from a simple but profound realization: humanity's biggest challenges often have straightforward solutions right in front of us. In my case, it was the lack of access to books that I wanted to address. Thanks to the support of dedicated coordinators Mrs. Sunitha Boppudi and Miss. Pamela, I've had the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful cause.
In my mind, it all boils down to one principle: helping one another. Society thrives when we extend a helping hand, and this belief fuels my happiness in making a positive impact on a broader scale. Many thanks to ALP who gave me along with others, the stepping stool to contribute to the great cause !!!
I set up a half-library in Kenya and it was an extremely rewarding experience. The support I received from my community for this project was terrific. My overall experience interacting with the directors of the organization was also really good. Everything was processed and done seamlessly with no extra issues or problems all over email very well. I had a fantastic experience with the project these past two years, and can't wait to continue my journey and complete more projects!
African Library Project (ALP) is such an amazing charity because together we bring the power of literacy to underprivileged kids in Africa. In my community, many people of all ages came together to help contribute to the project. Myself and a few others were tasked with leading individual library projects that collected 500+ books each, and we will continue to collect books to form more libraries in Africa. I’m grateful to ALP for the opportunity and what they do, and I will continue to be a volunteer of this wonderful organization.
You can’t argue with 4 million books…and counting! African Library Project’s dedicated, passionate group of volunteers and partners create small libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa using gently-used children’s books that might otherwise be needlessly discarded. ALP has created over 3800 libraries to date, libraries that are bringing access, opportunity, and a love of reading to a new generation. I can’t emphasize enough how proud I am of the work ALP does.
A fantastic organisation doing incredible work at grassroots level. High impact work that can involve the whole family and even your neighbourhood. Join in on the action and help start libraries across communities most in need.
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ALP is very deliberate about finding the opportunities to improve the lives of children through reading by finding the most under-resourced communities that really need this intervention and support. This has lead to the formation of many libraries and the building of a love for books and reading forbyoung people
Hi, my name is Siva Sreehitha Bellamkonda and I am from Chicago, Illinois. Summer 2023 was my second time leading the book drive collection with my friends. For the African Library Project we collected over 500 books to donate to primary schools in Africa. We had a great experience fundraising and collecting the books last year, and not only did the project bring us closer to each other, we were also able to directly impact the lives of children in Africa. So, we decided to pursue the initiative once again this year, and it was as much fun to pursue the initiative as it was the previous year. Our highlight was coming together at the end of it all to look at the work we had done, and our self fulfillment in being able to help underserved communities in Africa. Especially since education is an important value for each of us as it has provided us the opportunity to grow and develop, participating in the African Library Project has helped us promote the value of education for children in Africa. Overall, we are extremely grateful for the African Library Project allowing us to participate in this initiative, and we hope to partake in collecting more books to create more libraries in the future.
Hi, I am Abhishai Ganta. This was my first time being a part of the African Library Project. I have volunteered to establish a half-library in Botswana and this whole journey from collecting books to shipping them has been an incredible experience filled with joy!
Collecting over 500 books for a half library in Botswana was a valuable experience, recognizing that these books would be a crucial source of knowledge and creativity for the children there. Just imagining the happiness in the faces of the children as they receive and explore the books will be a truly heartwarming experience. It's immensely delightful to realize that I played a part, although in a simple way, in enriching their lives through literature. I hope that these books will bring happiness, inspiration, and a brighter future to all the young readers in Botswana.
I convey my deepest thanks to ALP team coordinators, Sunitha Boppudi and Nancy Beth Garrett. They played a crucial role throughout this journey by assisting me through the step-by-step process to complete this Book Drive. In addition, I would like to give my heartfelt gratitude to the ALP organization for granting me this magnificent opportunity, and I eagerly look forward to participating in more of these Book Drives in the future!
In the heartwarming journey we've embarked on with the African Library Project, we've used the transformative power of books and community. It all began with the five of us joining with a simple desire to make a difference, reaching out to local libraries, schools, and friends, all of whom supported this mission. Together we collected over 500 books, and each book represented a potential doorway to a world of knowledge, adventure, and inspiration for an eager young reader in Africa. One of the most memorable aspects of our journey was packing books together. This was actually the first time we had met. We learned numerous tips and tricks in sorting, stacking, and boxing these literary treasures. As a volunteer, we are not only grateful for the opportunity to help African kids but also for the friendships, memories, and sense of purpose that this journey has given us. Together, we are rewriting the future, one book at a time.
My First Book Drive!
My name is Satvik Maddali, and I'm from California! This year, I successfully completed my first book drive with the African Library Project (ALP). Hurray, way to go!
I've always enjoyed assisting others in whatever way I can since I was a child. The purpose back then was to make my parents or friends feel better, but after joining ALP, I realized I could help people in Africa by providing them with access to the wonderful world of books.
Even though, I can’t see the expressions on the kids’ faces who received the books, I am thrilled that I can make a difference by just doing what I love. Being able to spread the knowledge and be part of such an amazing projects, adventures, and stories help carve each of our childhoods.
It was a great feel working together as a group, gathering lots of good books and having lots of fun! Simple, fun filling activity of collecting books can be helping hundreds upon thousands of kids in Africa is amazing and is a great feel to be part of it. It makes me feel happy and proud that I joined ALP family!
It broke my heart when I learned that one third of adults and even more can’t read in Africa, but we kids can help change that for the better. I can't wait for my next projects and very thankful to ALP for giving such a great opportunity!
I did a full book drive for Botswana and had a lot of fun collecting and packing books for them. My Book drive manager was really helpful throughout the process, and I am really excited for the books to reach kids and open new creativity within them.
Donating books to a book drive is a great way to promote literacy and provide access to reading materials for those in need. When I first learned about the African Library Project, I wondered how I might send books to Africa. But, When I started out looking around their website, I was quite inspired by the testimonies of the donors and the journeys the books took to get to the libraries. The ALP staff is very helpful and prompt with their responses. It's an excellent way to reuse the books rather than just leaving them to gather dust. I have given 2000 books to 4 libraries thus far, and I intend to give even more in the coming years.
Over the years, friends have collected books that were shipped off to Africa. I’ve always had lots of books, and happily cleared my shelves. One of the friends suggested I conduct my own book drive. I emailed ALP, and was quickly sent instructions. The instructions were clear on how to organize a book drive, the kinds of books to send, packing tips, and shipping logistics. I also happened to include my name and email ID in the box.
A few weeks later, a librarian from an all-girls school in Uganda emailed me to personally thank me for helping create a library! She sent photos of the barren library and then the library transformed with hundreds of books. Witnessing the impact filled my heart with joy and gratitude. ALP deserves every bit of recognition for their outstanding work in promoting literacy across Africa.
The impact is tremendous to see books that were otherwise collecting dust shipped and now in the hands of these students. The books opened up a world of possibilities for these young minds, as up until then all they had were mandatory reading books. I am grateful to have been a part of the ALP mission and look forward to conducting my next book drive.
The African Library Project is a lean and effective non-profit whose model has drawn me in to being a volunteer and donor for nearly 16 years. As a frequent traveler to African countries, I've seen the huge benefit to students in primary and secondary schools that have libraries with English-language fiction and non-fiction books. It's a huge boost to literacy and successful lives.
ALP has a partnership model--Africans partners (mostly who are directly or indirectly involved with education) work side-by-side with (mostly) volunteer USA individuals to create or augment school libraries with 1,000 or so gently used books per library, one container of 30 or 60 libraries' worth of books annually. The African partners (currently in 7 sub-Saharan countries) personally vet the annual library applications from the 30 or 60 schools annually to make sure the schools have both the need for books and the ability to establish and run a library; in addition the partner train 1 or 2 teachers at each school to be a teacher-librarian. The African partners receive and clear their annual book container from ALP. ALP does not provide funding to the African partners; thus, they are truly full partners.
ALP pairs a US volunteer with each individual, vetted school. The volunteer collects the 1,000 books, mails them to ALP's container shipper, and pays for that school's book portion of the container shipment.
I personally have sent many sets of 1,000 books over the years and have seen, on the ground in ALP's beneficiary schools, that the shipped books are of very high quality; that the teachers and students enjoy and find the books very engaging and helpful. Recent feedback from the African partners shows that literacy and student confidence is elevated by having the donated books. For me, the ALP model is win-win. America is rich in children's books that parents, schools, and libraries donate--keeping them from landfills and becoming pulp. They have a great second life in African schools. Plus, teachers in the receiving schools are very happy to have these extra resources!
I have created libraries for Africa on a number of occasions, but what I like most about African Library Project is that when Africans contact me for a library I can give them the African Partner's information and they can apply for a library. Then people in the USA can gather books to provide the books for the African Library. People win all the way around. This is a great non-profit that does great work year after year!
I love reading books and enjoy the many doors of imagination reading opens up.
I have always wanted to spread the joy of reading to kids who don't have books. African Libary Project has not only allowed me to make this happen but also has shown me how I can grow in so many different ways along the way.
I am 14-years-old and a high school freshman in California. Six years ago when a friend reached out to me for some used books, I was intrigued and found out about ALP. Now, six years later, I have collected over 7,000 books and $4,500 to plant 9 libraries in Africa through ALP.
The effect ALP has had on my life is amazing. It has taught me many skills that I use in the real world and it has connected me to many people I look up to as role models. Many container managers and volunteers at ALP are extremely passionate, creative, and have encouraged me greatly. They have become people that I look up to and mentors over the years.
For me, ALP is not only about collecting books for rooting libraries in Africa. It is about trying to be creative in collecting books and funds, pitching to others, organizing my time, and mentoring other book drive organizers. ALP has additionally given me the opportunity to connect with other book drive organizers allowing me to form good connections and learn about their efforts to fundraise and collect books at the same time.
ALP, as a non-profit, is razor-sharp in its focus and runs extremely smoothly in a transparent way. We get to know the entire process through emails and photos along with shipping updates and constant communication between container managers. There is a wealth of information on their website that could greatly assist a beginner book drive organizer.
The African Library Project’s impact is truly astounding and the idea of me be being able to change the lives of kids in Africa is very close to my heart. I will surely continue to do more book drives through ALP in the future and greatly encourage anyone reading to try to complete a book drive. It is an experience many of us will never forget.
African Library Project is an incredible nonprofit. My friends and I worked together to collect over 2000 for libraries in Botswana and Sierra Leone. It was a fun project for a great cause. The ALP coordinators were very helpful and easy to work with and we were surprised with a heartfelt video from the students in Botswana who received our library. Working with ALP was truly one of the most meaningful and enjoyable service activities I have every done. I highly recommend it to anyone.
What a fabulous organization - and a perfect way to "think globally and act locally." Its volunteers have created over 3,000 libraries stocked with over 3 million books. "All it takes to create a single library for students in need is 1000 gently used children’s books and $500 toward shipping."
The website guides volunteers through the four steps: starting a book drive, sorting the books by age, packing the books for transport, and shipping the books to New Orleans (the point of departure to Africa)!
I'm a donor and volunteer and plan to help create many more African libraries.
I had wonderful fun reading books and choosing the best ones to send to Uganda, Africa. Uganda is not traditionally a literate society, they are oral story tellers and there have been few libraries for people to explore. African Library Project works with partners in underserved African countries to place libraries. In the United States, people get to run book drives to build book collections to send to libraries that want to start. I have worked with places in Uganda . The books arrived in Uganda during the pandemic, so it has been difficult for the libraries to start up. I just received photographs of parents and children exploring books at St. Phillips Church in Dandira, Mukono Uganda. (Notice the chairs stacked away. They cannot sit in yet due to Lockdown.)
Literacy, books, and reading are particularly important to me as I was born and brought up in Africa where I learned half the things I know through books. Now a grad student at Stanford, I understand the importance of the exposure that books can provide to avid readers and I just wish everyone would have the opportunity I had. This is why the African Library Project (ALP) and the work that ALP does are so personal to me.
I am always happy to volunteer with ALP in any capacity and I hope to one day organize a book drive myself.
Thank you.
My daughter, Aneri and I created our first African Library in Lesotho in 2019. Can’t thank the organization enough to be able to run the transactions smoothly. People who workS for ALP non-profit organization are passionated and humble and eager to help.
Being an avid reader, my daughter could related to the cause. I think ALP has created an impact on my daughter that will stay with for her whole life. My daughter is super excited about being able to spread the joy of books to others. She has registered for another library with her Girl Scout troop. This is a great community / service project for anyone.
Recommend it to everyone to help out in any way or means they can. ALP is making a difference....
I have organized three libraries for African Library Project, and have to tell you those days enriched my life, broadened my horizons, and left me with the knowledge that I changed the world, even if just a tiny bit. African Library Project's instructions on their site are easy to follow, they give plenty of time to collect 1,000+ books, and I met amazing people along the way who wanted to help raise money and find great books. Each of my libraries (Lesotho, Ghana, and South Africa) was unique, in that the recipients' needs and wishes for their libraries were different; one wanted lots of non-fiction, one wanted teaching materials, one wanted an emphasis on young adult books. They were all truly rewarding experiences, and I highly recommend volunteering for this marvelous nonprofit organization. You will find them responsive to any questions you have along the way, enthusiastic about your contribution, and grateful for your work.
I'm a 16 year old who wanted to help set up a library in Africa and ALP made it super easy to do so! Their website has extremely detailed steps for the book drive and shipping process. Additionally, the book drive coordinators are very helpful and will respond to any question or concern you have, no matter how big or small. Working with ALP was hassle-free and made the experience very enjoyable!
For several years, I found myself in a strange position of declining boxes of children’s books because I didn’t have room. I’m not one to turn away great kids books because I am a teacher and have three kids of my own, but books take up space and you can’t take what you can’t store. I later learned about the African Library Project at a college alumni event. This organization helps people send used children’s books to African countries to start community libraries. From here I put out the word that I was collecting used kids books to start a library in Ghana, and the books came. My 13-year-old son had plenty of friends who needed to unload their old children’s books. Most were already packed up and stored in their garages. My 6-year-old daughter and I raised money to ship the books by delivering Valentines Day Grams in our neighborhood. By the end of February the project was complete. This organization helps families unload their treasured, but space consuming, literature to start libraries for kids in need. The African Library Project is a win-win for everybody!
The African Library Project has a win-win partnership model for enabling literacy in Anglophone African countries: ALP's African partners reach out to and vet schools in their countries with few or no English books, and ALP's US volunteers are paired with those schools to collect 1,000 gently used books especially suited for those schools and raise about $500 to ship them via ALP's efficient, shipping container method. Each ALP African partner trains teachers in those schools to be librarians, and the result is increased literacy and a love of reading by the students, teachers and communities. This model produces US volunteers who repeatedly sign up to be matched with ALP schools/communities to collect and ship books--and even thank ALP for the satisfaction and opportunity of giving books a second life where they will be prized and read again.
I feel honored to feel a close bond with ALP's African partners. As an ALP volunteer, ALP Malawi liaison, former board member, 5-time ALP African Partner Summit participant, and frequent contributor to ALP book drives, I am honored to contribute time and funds to ALP's mission of hanging lives book by book in rural Africa. ALP is a very worthy non-profit!
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The African Library Project has a unique and tremendously effective relationship with African partners in six (and counting!) countries. It is this partnership, along with model of organizing book drives in the U.S. to supply beautiful, gently used books to rural schools and communities in Africa that led me to be on the ALP board for six years and continue involvement as a volunteer and donor. Can you imagine an all-volunteer organization that can establish over 1,000 libraries in just seven years -- with lots of book-drive organizers thanking ALP for the privilege of collecting books and funds for shipping them? And wanting to do another book drive? This happens often because the process is fun and rewarding, and it works.
ALP's African partners are dedicated in receiving the book shipping containers, delivering them to the new school and community libraries, training the teacher-librarians, and following up. I have visited dozens of the libraries with ALP-donated books and seen the pleasure and learning the books bring to African children and adults.
I am a board member of African Library Project, as well as an active volunteer and book drive organizer. I love African Library Project because it is a very lean, mission driven, and welcoming organization. African Library Project has started/improved 2,541 libraries in sub-Saharan African using over 2.5 million gently used books. By doing this, students in African have access to reading material and can make strides towards improved literacy, and book drive organizers of all ages in the United States now have an increased understanding of another part of the world, and the satisfaction of putting books into the hands of others, while keeping books out of landfills. Doing a book drive is a great activity for individuals, organizations, clubs, families, etc!
The African Library Project is an amazing organization. I have witnessed in person how creating small libraries helps to improve children's literacy and encourages a love of reading. And the people involved in ALP on both continents are impressive and inspiring: both the dedicated American and Canadian staff and volunteers and the capable and driven African partners. I am delighted to be a part of this exceptional nonprofit.
What a wonderful way to help....taking our books and sending to schools in Africa with no books. I have been involved with the creation of several libraries with our Girl Scouts, local community, family and friends. ALP is one of the BEST hands-on experiences you will ever have!
This is a fantastic organization that attracts fantastic people. The board, the partners, and especially the volunteers are extremely engaged and passionate about the important work of supporting literacy while educating communities in the US and Canada about Sub Saharan Africa. Despite inherent challenges in access, the organization does a great job of closing the loop with book drive organizers and volunteers, so they can really see the impact that their donations and effort has on children and communities so many thousands of miles away. I highly encourage anyone interested in global literacy to get involved!
I have been volunteering with this organization for over a year now. This is an amazing organization sending gently used books to African schools to set up libraries in schools that have no library. The people at the organization are dedicated, kind and passionate about their work and the donors who work toward collecting books and sending them to be shipped to Africa are as passionate about providing kids and teens with books in their schools as the people at the helm of this organization. Then there are the schools who are applying to get a library set up for their students. When I see that they are trying to set up clean, safe and accessible rooms in the schools for kids to read these books, I realize what a treasure it is to have access to books or learn to enjoy reading and how life changing it is for them all.
Pls consider organizing a book drive and give the gift of reading.
My daughter has completed 6 book drives with this wonderful organization, and the experience was a hugely positive learning experience for her. Throughout the process she was supported fully by the wonderful staff, who made sure she was successful, and encouraged her along the way. She felt connected to the communities she was helping, due the structure of the process, and felt great satisfaction and joy as a result. Due to her involvement, I have now become a volunteer with African Library Project, and feel very proud to be part of the team. I have seen first hand that an immense amount of thought goes into all stages of the process of matching book drives with libraries in Africa. This attention to detail and dedication not only changes the lives of the children and community members that receive the books, but also inspires the book drive organizers, giving them an insight into a different world, and how they have the power to make a change. The potency of this feeling cannot be underestimated.
We can never thank African Library Project enough. ALP has been an oasis of library resource in our primary, secondary and community libraries in Malawi through its yearly donations. The Ministry of Education does not have school libraries as one of its core responsibilities such that individual schools have to make their individual efforts to have a functional school library. This means most of the libraries in Malawi are run by non professional personnel. Yet the Malawi Library Association has been running a certificate course in Library and Information Science since the 1976. In addition Mzuzu University is producing librarians at bachelors and masters level. These end up doing teaching jobs because the Ministry has no policy to employ them.
ALP Partners in Malawi are complimenting governments efforts by doing the following: distribute and vet application forms, submit applications to ALP on behalf of applicants, track shipped container, and arrange for offloading, ensure that books reach beneficiaries, assess performance of libraries and above all train teacher librarians. Through these short course training teacher librarians are equipped with basic skills in librarianship. This is a huge boost to education in Malawi.
The ALP do not only donate libraries to schools in Malawi they also hold biannual summits in various African countries where partners from across the world meet and share their rich experiences. This accords partners a platform to learn, be motivated, get inspired, inspire others and belong to this warm big family of people that have this burning desire to do more to the information hungry people in their respective countries.
Chancellor College Library we will continue to work with ALP until each and very school in Malawi has a functional library. In addition we will also work to influence government to consider a change in policy with regard to school libraries.
On a personal level I feel deeply humbled and lucky to be associated with ALP.
We absolutely love the African Library Project (ALP)!
Our organization, Leading Through Living, has worked with ALP for almost two years and has established 5 libraries in Kenya (2), Swaziland, Ghana, and Botswana. It is an empowering process that allows us to work with community partners such as Churches and schools to expand literacy across the globe, and to educate groups on other countries and cultures.
The process is so easy and the support amazing. We are working on our sixth library this fall and plan to keep going. Our pledge is that as long as the books continue to come then we will continue to fundraise. And it works!
It is easy to understand the gift a library is for children who lack access to books. It is not as obvious to recognize the benefit to the volunteer who collects and ships the books. I have discovered that anomously helping make the world a better place by improving poor children's chance of success brings me great joy and satisfaction. With little effort one person can make a difference.
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I have never been able to have the direct, positive impact on others that I have experienced with the African Library Project. Being able to create school libraries, where there are none, and, thereby, improve the standard of living and quality of life of children has been extremely rewarding for me. We can personally make the world a better place. Additionally, all the staff for the African Library Project is volunteers. So any funds raised go directly to creating libraries and helping children.
ALP does amazing work in the Sub Saharan African that they work with! I have seen this myself in Lesotho! All and all, ALP is a fantastic organization in the states and abroad.
I have witnessed and experienced what it is like to be a part of the African Library Project in both the USA and in Africa. Organizing book drives and packing the books to be sent to countries in Africa is super easy and super fun. Then seeing kids in Africa who have never had books receive them, read them and learn from them is truly priceless. This is a non-profit that really changes lives, book by book!
The African Library Project (ALP) does an amazing job of connecting book drives in the United States with libraries in schools and villages in Africa. I learned about the project as it was starting up and over the years it amazes me that their considered and committed approach has resulted in over 2 million books sent to two thousand African libraries!
I very much admire the way in which anyone - an individual, a school group, an organization - can decide to collect books and money, and know when and where their contribution will go. I am an avid reader and know first-hand that libraries can be the lifeblood of schools and communities.
Two thumbs up and five stars!
I have been volunteering for African Library Project now for a year. It is a fantastic organization that provides libraries to schools in Africa which don't have many books. I love working with the people who sign up to gather 1000 books and $500. They often are surprised at the outpouring of support in their communities for their book drives and are able to provide two libraries. It's great to see a plethora of cast off used children's books end up in the hands of kids who really need them. It is refreshing to be able to use my time and skills to help with literacy instead of only writing a check.
I have found those who run this Organization extremely dedicated. It is their passion to get books in the hands of thes kids who otherwise will not have access to these books.
I have done two libraries with African Library Project through my church. Through African Library Project we are able to bring literacy to children in rural Malawi.
Everyone I've told about the African Library Project (ALP) who has become a book-drive organizer (collected 1,000 gently used children's books and raised $500 for shipping them) has actually thanked ME for the opportunity (through ALP) to help start a school library in Africa. ALP has incredible impact, which I've seen myself as a visitor to dozens of the schools where the libraries have been established. The "partnership" strategy between African education organizations and ALP's American volunteers means that all work together to accomplish the goal of improving literacy and the joy of reading.
They do great work connecting book drives in America with school libraries in Africa! What a great cause.
My daughter and I have run three book drives through the African Library Project, in addition to contributing to many other book drives over the years run by various schools in our area. I was so pleased to find a really concrete way to make a positive impact on the lives of people living halfway around the world.
As a teacher, I understand how absolutely critical it is to have access to books - without them it is nearly impossible to teach literacy skills, history, science, or an understanding of how other people live in other parts of the world. As a parent, I appreciated this opportunity to reinforce for my child the importance of education while experiencing the joy that comes from helping others.
If you are looking for a great service project for your kids, school, or community, ALP should be on your radar. ALP enables volunteers to make a life changing impact on children and communities in rural Africa. You will know exactly which country and community in Africa the books you collect will be going to. This is a project everyone can relate to no matter your age because everyone loves books and understands the power of literacy.
The African Library Project is a great non profit! Almost entirely volunteer based,
it makes a huge impact on parts of rural Africa with a very low-overhead.
Great leadership and a great team. It has been a pleasure working with them.
Elaine S. Wiener
Gifted Education Communicator
Journal for the California Association for the Gifted
17elaine@att.net
When a good friend got involved with the African Library Project, I jumped right on the band wagon! I am involved with other nonprofits, but I found that this project is outstanding in every way. They are always willing to answer questions and communicate the necessary information. This made collecting and shipping the books much easier. The African Library Projects not only helps students in the school involved, but also is a positive experience for all involved.
African Library project is providing outstanding service to rise the world literacy. My son did book drives for this and sent books to start library in Africa. We are humbled to know that used children’s books that we collect here make a huge difference in kids’ education in Africa. The staff at African library project are awesome, they supported my son during his book drives with timely guidance.
Fantastic organization doing fantastic work. The leadership is some of the strongest I've seen, the attention to fiscal responsibility is so high, the passion and love for the work is terrific. Perhaps most impressive is the partnerships with African organizations who will always have a deeper understanding of how to operate within their own countries than foreigners will. The organization shows deep understanding for how things are done in other countries, and deep respect.
ALP is an awesome organization -- great cause, dedicated team, organized and a well informed working team. We have completed two library drives and currently in progress with the third. ALP team was always on time, directing us with instructions to collect, label and ship. We will be doing more book drives with ALP!
ALP is a very worthy program and the members were very easy to work with. It is great knowing that we helped build libraries in Africa and as a result children are learning to read.
My daughter and I are involved in volunteering African Library Project! ALP is one of the greatest organization to work with. We have completed 3 book drives and 4th is going on. We couldn't have achieved this without ALP volunteers, they are very professional and exceptional. I have had an wonderful experience with ALP. Kudos to ALP founder and organization!
The African Library Project is one of the most encouraging nonprofit organizations for people of all ages. They help and support education for kids in need. Volunteering with this organization is very eye opening and life changing. Every book makes a difference so please save and donate them!
If you are passionate about volunteering for literacy, and if you really want to make a difference in the life of children in some of the poorest countries in the world, ALP should be on the top of your list of volunteering organizations to contribute your time/money/skills.
I just recently started a book drive and thoroughly enjoying it!
ALP is an amazing organization dedicated to helping people across the globe. The people who run the organization are very efficient, responsive, and hardworking. My project went very well and I was able to help out a community on the other side of the world!
The African Library Project is one of the greatest non-profits I have ever dealt with! They are providing an easy way for the general public to get involved in creating libraries in African schools that have very few resources, thus enabling underserved students access to reading materials. The leadership of this organization is involved, caring, attentive to details, and helpful in every way possible! No question is too insignificant and all staff are readily available via email or phone. I feel a sense of true joy when interacting with any member of the staff and know they all are truly dedicated to serving students in Africa. Create a library in an African School today - all it takes is 1000 books, $500 and a little bit of hard work! You'll never regret your decision!
If I could give this organization a six star rating I would do so. Allow me to share my reasons as to why.
When I was a little kid, I used to have a lot of questions. I used to wonder why I had to go to church on Sundays ,used to wonder why I had to die to go to heaven. But above all, I used to wonder why I had to go to school. So, I decided to go back into the past to look for answers. And as I paged through history yesterday, I came across a lot of events. I went to the '60s, when John Kennedy told America 'our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. It is the chief cornerstone of our existence and the foundation of our success.' But I did not stop there. I went again to a time when Nelson Mandela told South Africa, 'education is the most powerful tool one can use to change the world'. Odd enough, I did not stop there. I went back again to a time when Martin Luther King Jr told the youngsters of America ,'education is not merely an asset of privilege for an exclusive few. Rather, it is a tool to be used for paving the way towards success.'
Instantly, I knew I was answered. I immediately knew the role of education in my life. Its a pity some people never see its importance but I do hope they will someday see the light. It is also exceedingly joyful to see determined people like the African Library Project team striving to illuminate such people. They changing millions of lives with their work. I am proud to say I am their product and I would like to take this time to thank them. With their dedication and perseverance I believe we will bee able to restore many dreams a bring back the lost. And in a not so distant future we will be able to proudly say
Out from a gloomy past
Till now we stand at last
Where the bright gleam of our star
Is cast
A BIG thank you to the African Library Project!!
ALP is the perfect service project for children of all ages or school groups. ALP's model makes the goal of collecting 1000 gently used books and raising $500 for shipping very attainable. In a manner of minutes, you can set up a professional looking website that gives instant credibility to your book drive. You have use of ALPs logos, photos, and relavent facts about the African countries ALP works in. The experience is made all that much more rewarding to be connected directly with the community that you will be sending books to. You have the opportunity to send notes and pictures along with the books. I did a book drive with my kids (7 & 4ys old) this past spring. We plan to make this an annual project.
I have had a wonderful and exceptional experience working with ALP. They have a unique, streamlined process that is distinct and powerful in the aid world. With ALP, you are put in touch with the needs of a unique school, rather than a Westerner's idea about what a rural school in far away 'Africa' might need. In my case, a couple of friends and I collected books tailored to the needs of Good Shepherd High School in Siteki, Swaziland. The school had asked specifically for books that would cater to its community library, which had mostly young readers. They also asked for schools that would open up the minds of young Swazis to technology. That is exactly what we tried to fulfill.
On the tail end of the process, it is the receiver that has to pay for bringing the books from the port to the schools. This idea is embedded in the philosophy that the receivers have to take ownership of the books. Furthermore, the ALP board makes an effort to use their own personal funds to go to different countries on the African continent and see if the books are taken care of. All this is pretty much unheard in the development industry, where expensive 'experts' fly first class on aid money and live lavishly in the developing world (see William Easterly's White Man's Burder and Deborah Brautigam's The Dragon's Gift).
So to ALP, here is a well-deserved and overdue 5-star ranking from a kid who grew up reading your books back in Swaziland.
African Library Project is a great organisation that provides some amazing resources to communities which normally will not have the opportunity to receive them. I was involved with helping a school in Sierra Leone set up a library using books from ALP. The students, teachers, and families were thrilled to see so many books! As a teacher at the school and librarian, I saw the library and books be used daily by students and teachers alike. ALP provides wonderful training for new librarians and a how to guide on setting up a library. Again, great organisation with everlasting benefits to the communities they help!
I participated as a book packer when ALP was in its infancy and have been thrilled to see the organization start over 1600 libraries in the 10 years of its existence. I am now proud to be a donor and contribute to the growing literacy in Africa, which will result in people achieving better lives for their future and the future of their families.
Mountain View High School has been involved with the African Library Project soon after its inception. For the past 8 years, the Leo Club, which is a student led service club supported by the Sunnyvale Host Lions Club has donated a library to a school in Africa. Each year students are motivated to raise all $600 of the funds for shipping the 1,000 books they annually collect to be sent to a school in Africa so the children there have the gift to read. The students altruistically jump at the opportunity to participate in this worth while project and seek out opportunities to work together in the local community to earn the funds and collect gently used children's books. It's a project which takes months of work to help materialize, but the joy in watching students bond as they serve in the local and international communities to make this happen is rewarding beyond words.
Holding a book drive at the elementary school where I am a teacher was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my teaching career. I saw how the students grew excited to share resources with other students who live far away and, just like them, are eager to learn and grow. ALP gave me clear guidelines for book donations and how to package the boxes that would travel to our partner school. On the ALP website, there are several examples of ways to raise the money for the shipping costs. Thank you ALP for all your efforts to support and encourage literacy.
I strongly recommend ALP. As an all-volunteer organization they provide individuals, groups and communities a meaningful way to promote literacy in Africa. Their well established formula (1000 books + $500 = 1 library ) made it easy to participate in a book drive and was a tangible project for our students to focus on. It's a win-win situation!!
The African Library Project is the best kind of LITERACY charity because it brings people together! People in the US get to share the books they love with readers in countries that do not have Amazon Prime, Google Express or even a public library to use on a whim. In a context in which fast and free is replaced by slow connections and scarcity of resources, the bricks and mortar collections that volunteers from the US and in Sub-Saharan Africa make into libraries are the best kinds of learning resources to build together. ALP makes this happen a little bit at a time with connections from community-->community.
I've been a volunteer for ALP since 2005 (former board member), and as a librarian who has worked in Sub-Saharan Africa and the US, I am critical when it comes to doing book aid responsibly. ALP does book aid right by doing library aid! While responding to the real need for books, ALP also...
- Brings African professionals together in a Summit every two years
- Fosters community among the recipient communities in each large shipment of books
- Provides practical manuals to train rookie librarians in the field.
If LITERACY is your passion, African Library Project could be a great match for you. Try starting with some books, some cash and some elbow grease...
I've done two book drives with African Library Project and and they make the process very easy and provided help whenever needed. It's an amazing feeling to know that I am now connected to two schools that needed books. This is the kind of project that people love to help with and it was surprisingly easy to make the targets. I plan to do more book drives in the future!
We collected books for Engudumeni Primary School in South Africa, where our son is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. The work was highly personal and very rewarding. The tools and support provided by ALP made what could have been an overwhelming experience, achievable. There is no way we could have figured out how to collect, sort and ship 1200 quality books without their guidance and partnership. Thank you!!! We are grateful to be able to provide books and materials that will enrich the students, teachers, and community, while our son is serving, and leave a lasting legacy for years.
The African Library Project has been the most meaningful non-profit I have had the pleasure to be involved with. The organzation truly makes a difference in the countries it serves. Delivery books to young people in places where there books are not easily available. I have seen, first hand, these libraries and they are being used by so many that have not had the priviledge to have books before. A life changing experience for so many.
I was a coordinator for an African Library Project early in 2015. I was a little intimidated and as I recruited organizations and people to help me I thought I would ask someone else to set up the website page for our project. But I went onto the African Library Project website, and I could not believe how well organized it was. There were lots of resources to use to help market the book drive. Setting up the website page for our project was very easy! The transportation coordinators who emailed me frequently were always ready to answer my many questions. With the ALP's help it was so easy to collect books, Our project collected over 4000 books. We ended up helping 3 different schools in South Africa and 1 in Malawi. This was one of the most gratifying projects that I have ever had the privilege to be a part of. African Library Project is a GREAT Nonprofit!
I found out about the ALP through a friend of mine and decided to start my own drive. It was very easy and everyone was helpful. People are eager to help and volunteer in many ways. I wish more people found the time to donate books, time, services and money to such a worthy cause.
I became aware of the African Library Project about a year ago. As I have learned more about the organization and have gotten to know the founder Chris Bradshaw, ALP volunteers and board members, my respect and admiration have grown immensely for the important work this non-profit is accomplishing. I recently donated an item for their biennial fundraiser, Harambee, which I attended with a small group of friends. It was a party not to be forgotten with African food, dance and music, pulled together by an enormous team of volunteers! I can hardly wait for the next, however, that is not the most important part. What struck me most was how Chris and ALP are able to mobilize forces to accomplish their goals. They are a passionate group and have started over 1,411 libraries with over 1.5 million books. Wow! The collaborative efforts and sheer determination of this grass roots effort is moving and they are truly making a difference, one library at a time. I look forward to seeing their continued success.
- Barbara Hugli-Jones
Our middle school library has been involved with the African Library Project for 9 years. This is my third year helping with the annual book drive. The organization is great because it provides plenty of information on what kind of school you are helping and supports us throughout our book drive. The website provides flyers, photos, fact sheets on African countries, and examples of presentations to advertise your book drive. African Library Project works because it is focused on building libraries and training teacher librarians. They are well organized and make helping easy. Chris Bradshaw has always been available to talk to and is ALWAYS enthusiastic about what she is doing. She inspires me to want to do all that I can to get the kids in Africa to read, to learn, and to grow.
Our experience with ALP has been great on so many levels. First, the projects provide real, tangible results. We're paired with a specific school in a specific country, which really motivates donors to get involved.
Second, ALP provides so many resources and support mechanisms, it feels easy to get things up and running and to know what to do at each step. The organization is clearly well run, and the loyalty of their staff and volunteers really adds to the credibility of our project.
Finally, our ALP project has provided so many learning opportunities for my kids. We've done research on the country we're sending the books to, have planned logistics like storing and packing boxes of books, and did lots of creative work making flyers, videos, and our website to market the project.
All of these things combined have made this an experience we would highly recommend and do again in the future!
The African Library Project is an extremely well-run organization that provides an avenue for our secondary school students to engage in philanthropy on a global level. Participating in the ALP helps to create a culture of compassion and encourages students to think about how they can make a difference in the world.
I highly recommend this nonprofit!
Our middle school has been involved with the African Library Project for eight years, and we have started thirteen libraries. What's great about ALP is that the model is really easy to implement. Not only is it a truly rewarding cause, but all participants benefit greatly from the experience. It's been a great way to develop a community of service-learners at our school site. Many teachers, students and parents get involved in the collection of books, and historically we have covered the shipping costs by holding a student-run garage sale. We love this organization and will vigorously continue our support!
I am a book drive organizer for the African Library Project. ALP partners me with communities or schools that really wants the books we are collecting. This is a win-win volunteer project. You can save books from going into landfills here at home (yes our culture throws away good stuff) and give those books a new life where they will really be valued.
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Our middle school has been associated with the ALP for a few years now. Last year was the 5th school that we helped get their own library. Our students see this as an opportunity to serve others. They willingly donate books that they have outgrown, count them, sort them and package them. They also raise the funds needed for shipping.
The African Library Project has a great organization, with helpful staff. Everything is completely explained up-front AND they also provide the opportunity to personalize their website so that we can advertise our book drive and show our progress. Our students also like knowing where the books are going and what school and grade levels they serve.
This is a great way to connect students to the world and to serve others. It also helps them to feel a part of something bigger than themselves. We are happy to be a part of such a wonderful organization
For several years my family has been collecting gently used children's books to support the African Library Project (ALP). I love how easy it is to connect with local groups doing book drives and how accessible the ALP staff are. This model of giving is so simple and the impact is so powerful! It's a great way for young children in America to learn about the power and importance of giving and helping others less fortunate.
I joined the African Library Project after a bicycle trip in South Africa, which made very visible the need for books and educational materials, particularly in rural areas. This nonprofit is a win-win for everyone -- African schools get books and training for librarians to sustain the libraries, U.S. volunteers get to learn about African countries, while they are recycling used children's books that otherwise would likely end up in a landfill. It's one of the few organizations which has a role for young people in the philanthropic efforts. It's a simple idea that works and changes lives one book at a time.
ALPer 05/17/2014
Thanks, Christine!!!
We were so successful in our fund-raising efforts for the library books we shipped to Ghana this year that we have excess funds we would like to donate to your organization. It has been such a pleasure to work with the African Library Project, the whole process is so organized and the results gratifying. Keep up the good work!
I've done six book drives now, with my most recent soon to be on its way to Ghana. This is a project that connects children, communities, and people in the US and in Africa with one another. I typically solicit donations from people at work, from schools, and from my community. I always meet new people and am able to spread the joy that comes from making a real difference in the world with this project. Being a hardcore bookworm, it is by far my favorite, and the most impactful work I do. The best part is the light on people's faces when they bring me their book selections; those who love to read love to share that with others, and knowing these may well be the first books children receive is all the more precious.
Running a book drive for African Library Project was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had as a volunteer. I received letters from teachers, librarians, and the school principal about how excited they were to receive the books I would be sending. African Library Project does a fantastic job at finding people and schools who will really appreciate the effort of volunteers and will put the books to good use. The fact that African Library Project is completely volunteer-run never ceases to amaze me. Anyone who has the time and the resources should hold a book drive!
ALPer 09/06/2013
Thank you, Laura. Reviews like this warm our hearts:)
The African Library Project is an amazing group of volunteers working tireleslly to promote education and literacy in some of the most remote regions in Africa. They are professional courteous and we are thrilled to have discovered them and be able to work with them. Without their hard work we would not have been able to make as much as an impact. There knowledge and experience is a beacon of light and it is an honor to work with them.
ALPer 09/04/2013
Thanks, Yosef! We love Books4Cause, too! You do such a phenomenal job in the Chicago area. I'm so glad you are headed to Botswana in November:)
The African Library Project stands out in a crowded field of non-profits:
- It provides real, working libraries where they are needed most. ALP never sends money, just books and a bit of technical assistance to turn gently used books into working libraries that are available to communities where books are truly scarce.
- It puts quality ahead of quantity. ALP has clear criteria to send books that are most wanted and needed to improve literacy and develop a reading culture in traditional African settings. They place a huge emphasis on working with local partner organizations that will follow-up to make sure libraries are well used.
- It attracts enthusiastic volunteers to run book drives from all over the USA, and most want to do it again! Children and adults love to give their beloved books to those who need them most.
- It is all volunteer (no paid staff.) The founder/director works full time for no pay, and she sets the tone for the volunteer Board of Directors to roll up its sleeves to get all the work done with an open heart and a warm smile.
- It is well-run. Its inspiring track record (over 1,000,000 books shipped) has attracted talented Board members who understand the problems and opportunities of providing development assistance to Africa.
My experience with ALP has been tremendous as it has enhanced Wungwero Book Foundation's expertise in facilitating the creation of rural libraries and the development of the relationships and connections necessary for the sustenance of those libraries. Books donated by ALP through WBF have touched the lives of many young, rural boys and girls who desire books for their education.
Our partnership with ALP has also helped WBF realise one of its objectives to train teacher-librarians, which is uniquely suited to rural/small libraries in Malawian schools. These staff development initiatives are strengthened by the inclusion of best practices developed by other regional ALP partners, enabling the teacher-librarians support of advocacy initiatives in the promotion of the use of libraries and the development of a reading culture.
Finally, my association with ALP has been one of personal professional enrichment as it has raised my profile and I have been able to offer my professional epertise to a wide, rural disadvantaged community which I wouldn't without ALP.
My experience with the African Library Project has been life-changing, not only for myself but for the hundreds of thousands of children in Africa over the next couple generations that will benefit from our efforts. The book drive I was a part of collected over 55,000 children's books, starting 47.5 libraries throughout 5 different countries of Africa. While the collection of books and funds to ship comes from book drives like ours, it takes an organization like the African Library Project to centralize these efforts and coordinate the logistics behind such a monumental project. They have sparked an educational revolution and created a streamlined process to provide a vital cornerstone of education to schools that otherwise wouldn't have any books. My experiences with the African Library Project have shaped the leader I am today, while helping spread literacy abroad.
Our family of 5 just completed our first library through the ALP. It is humbling how very little it takes to make such a difference in the lives of children. Thank you, ALP, for the opportunity to serve! It was an incredible experience, and I'm sure we'll be volunteering again soon.
ALP makes it so easy to see a positive impact and results in service. Our 5th grader coordinated a book drive at his intermediate school and the response was overwhelming. The students really relate to the need for books and the critical role of reading in a child's life. His classmates struggled to find age-appropriate service projects of their own, so many of them joined in on his packing party and brought books, supplies and a giving spirit. ALP's directions and guidance made all the difference. We could never do this alone without ALP's structure in place. It's easy, effective, and leave a permanent and lasting effect on the world. What could be better!?
I signed up for my first library through the African Library Project over a year ago, with the shipment date last May 15. Just today I delivered my 8th African library to the post office to begin its journey to Malawi. This organization is completely run by volunteers on the US, so there's no money going into someone's pocket somewhere. Impressively, ALP partners with NGOs in the destination countries to ensure that the books shipped actually become functioning libraries.
I had to stop working due to health reasons, and collecting, cleaning, sorting, packing and shipping books for the libraries can be done when and how I am able: I get to volunteer in a meaningful way without having to go to meetings, deal with politics, or be expected to show up on a regular basis. The organization-level volunteers take care of all the nitty-gritty organizational things so I get to focus solely on assembling and sending libraries to schools and communities who have few to no books. What an honor and pleasure!
Since I'm an individual contributor, I buy the majority of the books I send, although I do accept (and receive) donations from friends, relatives and sometimes from strangers. Something that feels good to me is that the books I buy mostly come from organizations I am happy to support: our local public library, hospice and free clinic; ARC, United Cerebral Palsy, the American Cancer Society, and a local charity thrift shop that helps support the battered women's shelter and other worthy causes. So my purchases are win-win, helping my local community and helping to transform communities in several African countries (Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho and Ghana so far, for me).
As a lifelong reader and book lover who wants to do something meaningful, it doesn't get much better than this!
African Library Project has made such an impact in my life. I am an immigrant from Kenya, Africa and when I came to America, I stepped into a library for the first time. In Africa I had never been exposed to any books besides the textbooks we got in school. My grandmother who raised me was illiterate so there were no books around the house. Since I stepped into the library for the first time, I fell in love with libraries. I began to dream of building libraries in Africa to help other Africans get the opportunity to step into a library like I did. African Library Project helped me accomplish this dream of mine at 16 years old. I got to reach out to my whole community for gently used books. I set up barrels at church and at school. It was just amazing how people I did not even know brought books to me.The organization requires you to collect a 10000 books. When I first saw this number I thought that it would be extremely hard to raise this many books but, it was not. People are extremely generous, I collected about 5000 books. Through out this whole project the organization was great in supporting me. I would email them and immediately receive answers. I am really grateful for this organization and the wonderful work they are doing. I now know that children in Africa who are just like my childhood self will receive the books that I never had growing up.
ALPer 10/17/2012
What a treat to read the huge impact ALP has had not only in Africa, but for American kids doing book drives. In this case, a Kenyan kid doing a book drive in America. Kudos to this young woman on making her dreams come true! ALP requires 1000 books, not 10,000 to do a book drive.
I began volunteering for the African Library Project (ALP) in January 2012. For the last several years, I have worked with a variety of non-profits to raise awareness on human rights and literacy. ALP by far is one of the most organized non-profits I have worked with, which is made even more impressive by the fact that the organization is driven solely by volunteers. For a business model like this to operate successfully, it takes incredible dedication and passion from each individual.
ALP impacts not only those throughout Africa, but also our book drive organizers and their communities. ALP offers volunteers a concrete opportunity to make a real, significant, and lasting difference in the lives of children and adults in African villages. Many of these regions never before had libraries, and had limited--or no--access to books. I love that instead of used books winding up in the trash, they are saved and given to people who truly cherish them.
My time with ALP has been very rewarding. It has been a pleasure getting to know our board members, our book drive organizers, and our partners in Africa. I am very much looking forward to watching ALP grow in the coming years.
ALPer 09/29/2012
Monique, we so appreciate the time, talent and ideas you have brought to the board. Thanks for all that you do. We look forward to more of it:)
African Library Project has given us such a wonderful opportunity to change the lives of many people. My class of 1st graders have gone out to collect money and books to make a library in Botswana. Many of them still in process of learning how to read were very excited with the idea of helping children whom they never met in another continent to learn how to read. Chris from ALP came to the classroom for a presentation. Within a short period of time, the whole school was involved in collecting the books. A little girl had gone around knocking door to door to collect the shipping money for the books. Mothers have come to help packing, and fathers have come to take the boxes to the post office. Everyone got involved and in everyone's heart there was warmth serving a community. It became an unforgettable life learning event for the 1st graders.
ALPer 09/28/2012
This was such a special book drive done by about 20 first graders, most of whom are immigrants. Can you imagine? A six year old went door-to-door on her own initiative and raised enough money to ship the entire library! Chikako, thank you for the leadership you provided and for this lovely review.
As a special gift to honor my wife's retirement from her elementary teaching career, I contacted Chris at ALP to ask her thoughts on the idea. Her excitement matched mine, as Pam (my spouse)had been her school-bus seatmate some 48+ yrs ago in rural Indiana! Chris then guided me through the starting process, partnered us with Laura Hill (terrific) and set us up with our two ALP schools in Swaziland. With book donations from community members, friends, and neighbors, as well as, our own two girls libraries, and our fabulous support from city government leaders and the entire elementary school staff/students, we met our goal of 2000+ books in time for a road trip over Spring-break to New Orleans. With a van loaded with 28+ boxes, we delivered our ALP to the warehouse for shipment to Africa. No words can really express the feeling of accomplishment we had upon unloading our cargo. The entire experience working with Chris and Co. was nothing short of magical. To see how happy this gift made Pam, how special it made me feel, and how encouraged we are for the future of these libraries is simply incredible. Already have a big start on the next ALP for our elementary school this next year!! If this group of dedicated people were an Olympic-judged event, they would clearly receive perfect 10's across the board.
ALPer 09/27/2012
Holy Smokers, Tom! You are too sweet! You and Pam have been so fun to work with. I'm stoked that you are planning to do it again next year:) Was it really 48 years? Oy!
I have been working with ALP for over a year now and I have been impressed with their energy, efficiency and dedication on every project that I have been a part of. Chris started this non-profit with a blank slate and where she has taken it over the last 7 years is quite astounding. With true grass roots efforts, African Library Project brings generations and cultures together to truly make the world a better place. I hope to be a part of this wonderful organization for many years to come.
ALPer 09/26/2012
Oh, Leslie! No one could be happier than we are to have you working with us or prouder of your work. I'm thrilled to hear you want to be part of us for years to come because we are not letting you go:)
ALP has done such an amazing job changing lives in African villages. Education and knowledge are the gateways to understanding and respect.
ALPer 09/26/2012
Bettina, thank you so much for your support and interest in our work...and thank you for this lovely review.
My school district has started 18 libraries in the last 5 years by partnering with the African Library Project. It has become a passion for many of us to get books in the hands of school children. We began by just getting 1000 books, but the longer we collect, the more specific we have become. For instance, now we always make sure there are at least 10-12 books about African children. We like to include a box that has educational games and flashcards. Then there is a book of over 500 children's poems that has newer poems and some old classics, like, "Grandpa dropped his glasses in a pot of dye" and "Once there was an elephant who tried to use the telephant" that we like to include. Of course, no children's library is complete without Dr. Seuss. When we get feedback from a library that we start in Africa that the teacher stays late at the school because the people of the town want to come and check out books from the school, our hearts almost burst. What a wonderful way to share from our plenty!
ALPer 09/25/2012
Your school district has set an amazing example of what is possible when a small community in the US puts its energy towards helping small communities in rural Africa. Missouri's Lindberg School District has decided to follow in your footsteps and I hope they are half as successful and just as heartfull as your school district, Nicki.
My sister and I started with a goal of collecting 1000 books to start one library with the African Library Project. We had a team of neighborhood 5th grade girls, retired teachers and community volunteers. We were having so much fun and collecting so many books that we were able to start 3 libraries in Africa. We like the organization and believe in the work so much that my sister and I decided to go to Zimbabwe last Fall to attend the bi-annual conference with other volunteers. The experience was fabulous. We met librarians, students and administrators who are so appreciative to have books in their schools and communities to help the learning process. Sending our gently used books to areas that have no or few books opens a whole new world for children to read, learn and explore. The African Library Project is a GREAT Nonprofit!
ALPer 09/25/2012
I love how you and Judy involved the community in your book drive, from the neighborhood children to the school, and the restaurant that gave a free side dish when someone donated a book and the servers donated their tips to help with shipping! You guys were an amazing behind-the-scenes force at the Swazi Summit. Thanks for the review and for demonstrating what a beautiful thang neighborhood book drives are!
My middle school library has been holding an annual book drive for the African Library Project since it started. Chris devised a user-friendly process that makes it easy for those running the book drives. That is why this organization is so successful at what it does -- because of her great organizational skills!!! And because it is such a worthwhile goal.
ALPer 09/25/2012
Thanks for the review, Annie! Jordan Middle School has made a huge impact in the lives of thousands and thousands of African students through their annual book drives. You guys rock! - Chris
I've been on the board since 2010 and look forward to serving another term when this one is complete. I feel great about the time I spend knowing that the libraries we send are such a valued and precious resource. I have also done a book drive and loved the experience of collecting and packing up the books. I only planned to collect 1,000 but they came pouring in and I was able to collect 3,000 books--enough for 3 libraries.
ALPer 09/25/2012
Thanks, Deborah! You are part of the backbone of this organization. I'm so impressed with your steady, creative, significant contributions to the board and ALP.
ALPer 09/25/2012
Gee, thanks, Coy! You have been as big a gift to ALP as we have been to you. May we create many more beautiful African libraries together.