News

Here is a great report from our partner Ethiopia Reads regarding their book distribution project in Ethiopia, with funding also provided by Better World Books. The books will be distributed to new libraries all over Ethiopia. They’ve already landed in four pilot Peace Corps projects, a girls’ school, and three library projects under a USAID/Ethiopia Ministry of Education partnership.

Books For Africa is proud to announce a new Affiliates program for organizations that want to partner with BFA. Examples of Affiliates are corporations, Rotary clubs, churches, foundations, and schools. Affiliate members support the mission of Books For Africa to end the book famine in Africa, and believe that building bright futures can be accomplished through literacy. Click on the link above for more info...

Often referred to as a domestic version of the Peace Corps, Americorps is a volunteer-based opportunity whose mission to make a big difference in the lives of those around by helping to solve community problems and improve lives. Led by Marcia Brown, an Atlanta group of mostly new Americorps volunteers got their first taste of Books For Africa on August 9th and 10th. Although Americorps focuses mainly on the immediate community, Ms. Brown felt that her charges would benefit by stepping outside of their local box and having their eyes opened to the book famine in Africa. Click on the link above for more info and photos...

Books For Africa concluded its fiscal year on July 1, 2011, and shipped 178 container units to 21 African countries, representing approximately 1.9 million books shipped for a cumulative total of almost 25 million books shipped in BFA's history. These books were valued at $22.2 million. A total of $1.7 million in cash was raised by donors to ship these books. We also sent 643 computers and 13 new West law libraries to Africa last fiscal year. This was our biggest and best year ever at BFA! Click on the link above for more info...

This enthusiastic group of high school students came to the Books For Africa warehouse in Smyrna, Georgia, from the Upward Bound Program at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. Director Christopher Goins led his group around Atlanta in July, visiting colleges and performing volunteer work. The group joined the Books For Africa warehouse staff for a morning of sorting and packing donated books and school supplies. Click on the link above for more info and photos...

Thanks to generous funding from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF), eight sea containers of BFA books and computers are being distributed to over 200 schools and libraries throughout Nigeria. In addition, the University of Nigeria at Nsukka law faculty will receive a core library of brand-new West law books donated by Thomson Reuters. BFA Executive Director Pat Plonski noted that “this is the largest donation by a single benefactor in the history of Books For Africa, and the largest donation ever to Nigeria." Click on the link above for more info and photos...