News

For the first time in our history, Books For Africa has shipped books to Burundi! That means that we have now shipped 28 million books to schools and libraries in 49 different African countries. Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world. With 80% of the population living in poverty, very few people are able to attend school. Only 50% of Burundian children attend elementary school and only 8% of young adults attend secondary school.

BFA Executive Director, Patrick Plonski, has been keeping busy visiting partners across the United States.

Books For Africa invites you to be a part of our Annual Spring Donor Reception! Join us for an evening with His Excellency Ebrahim Rasool, Ambassador of South Africa to the United States at the newly reopened St. Paul Athletic Club.

U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) just recently returned from a trip to Somalia to meet with the newly elected Somali president, Hassan Sheik Mohamoud. While visiting, President Mohamoud requested that Representative Ellison help Mogadishu re-establish the Mogadishu Public Library.

Thanks to a new partnership with National Geographic, Books For Africa will help brighten classrooms across Africa. BFA recipients can now order a library of six new, laminated National Geographic Africa, World, and Universe maps to accompany their shipment of 22,000 books.

Books For Africa thanks the General Mills Community for the donation of 3,687 books! The General Mills Black Champions Network hosted a month long book drive and awareness campaign on their Twin Cities campus in celebration of Black History Month. They concluded their book drive and Black History Month activities on Friday, March 1, with a closing ceremony featuring Helene Gayle, President & CEO of CARE, as keynote speaker.