Photos have been removed from this issue because of a law in Kenya requiring strict documentation for photos and videos featuring school children.
February, 2020
Website: https://libraries4kids.org/
Changing The World One Mind At A Time
We need your help,
February has been another exciting month. We have now shipped to 7 schools and our shipping committee will ship to 4 more schools in the next few days at which point our funds will be almost spent. We need your support in the form of money and book donations to supply the 16 schools on the waiting list.
The rural schools in Kenya are at a disadvantage. Every year all Kenyan students take a national exam which determines whether the student can advance to the next school level. City schools are well funded and have computers and libraries. However, the rural schools don't do as well on the exam because they have few resources. Libraries For Kids, Int'l aims to level the playing field so these rural students improve their opportunities.
Here's a story about the Amboseli Primary and Secondary School submitted by Francis Wanjiku.
Would you be able to focus on studies if you lived in the corridors of wildlife animals? If your school was located next to a national park or reserve where predators can quickly attack you, would you wake up every day and head to school? If you knew that in case of an attack, the strong warriors at the community would not be able to assist as they are miles away herding cattle, would you leave the comforts of your home for a chance to learn? What would you do with your life, while in this situation, and knew that the entire community is making sacrifices to provide you with education, the best that is available just so you get that one chance? Would you give up or make it count? A student in Amboseli primary and Secondary school does not have to think twice about this. Their answer, yes, it is worth the risk. They face this situation every day, and they do not focus on the challenges but on their hopes for the future. They dream of becoming pilots, politicians, surgeons, air hostess, teachers, nurses, soldiers or white-collar professionals. Yes, education is essential to them. If only they had the resources they need such as adequate books, they would be unstoppable! Located next to a community of nomadic herdsmen (Maasai tribe), the students in this institution are a classic example of what every Kenyan student wants and how they are as they strive to build a future brighter than their present. Because of their traditions and customs, warriors hardly spend time at home. They are gone for weeks to graze their herds, leaving the children and women at home. This makes them vulnerable but the risk is worth it as education is the key to success. With adequate access to the books from Libraries for Kids International, the community is grateful as this increases their chance of realizing their dreams. Click HERE for more amazing stories. NOTE: Amboseli's story is a typical of most rural schools in Kenya. Please help us help these kids to the gift of knowledge by donating to this cause. You can donate on our website or GoFundMe Page. LEARN MORE For more information about Libraries For Kids please visit our website. You can donate on our website.
Pass it On
Please share this e-newsletter with your friends. To subscribe, please click HERE.
MEDIA
Click HERE for a link to a story on WHHI-TV, Hilton Head, SC
MEET OUR BOARD
Libraries For Kids, Int'l. is blessed to have a great Board of Directors.
Meet Erich Schmid
Erich has been a tireless volunteer for Libraries For Kids and Chairs our Shipping & Receiving Committee. He is Cofounder and President of Business Intermediary Services, Ltd. and is a 35-year veteran in the mergers and acquisitions arena. He has both a B.S. in Industrial Management and M.S. in Management from The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio and studied Strategic Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Business. He was instrumental in founding the Carolinas-Virginia Business Brokers Association (CVBBA) and served as its first president. Erich and his wife, Marilyn, live on Hilton Head Island, SC. They have two children, Gregory and Sara, and three grandchildren, Barrett, Mia and Nate.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
We owe a great debt of gratitude to our dedicated volunteer, Francis Wanjiku. She created our website and has been working on our behalf in Kenya to connect us with schools and resolve shipping and operational issues. When asked why she was so committed to Libraries For kids, she said "When I was in school, 30 to 40 kids shared one book. I will do anything I can to change that."
Francis Wanjiku, aka “Ciku”
Shanga facility in Arusha, Tanzania which employs handicapped people making a wide variety of craft products.
Books For Sale: We have a set of 45 Alexandar Dumas books in very good to excellent condition published in 1895. The collection has been appraised at $2,500 We also have other old books for sale that are do not fit the criteria set by the schools in Kenya. See the left side panel. Copy & paste the list into Word and enlarge it. The books about the founding fathers were published in 1897. If you know a collector who would like to buy these books, please contact us at 843-597-4826.
GoFundMe
We have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money. No donation is too small and each helps in two ways. The more activity on the GoFundMe page, the higher its visibility, and also every little bit helps. Please click here to donate.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Speaking: We are looking for opportunities to present the Libraries For Kids Int’l story, such as civic clubs, churches, Chambers of Commerce, book clubs, professional associations, etc.
Celebrity Spokesperson: If you know someone or can connect us to a celebrity that would be a huge benefit
Partners: Our partners provide free services and in return, we put them on our website and feature them in our monthly e-newsletter.
We are always looking for new partners
Shelves: We need book shelves for our storage space. If you are doing a remodeling job and taking out old shelves or can part with a bookcase please let us know.
Corporate Sponsor: While we have learned how to minimize the cost of shipping books, it is still expensive. We are investigating the possibility of shipping a container of books so having a corporate sponsor for this project would be a great help. Money: Shipping & help schools pay customs fees and buy new textbooks. Books: There is a list of the type of books the schools want on the contact us page on our website. Please click here.
Library Named For You?
Would you like a library named for you? Setting up a library and supplying money for new textbooks costs about $2,500. Donate $2,500 and we will have the school name the library for you and send you pictures of your library. Sponsor a school today with a donation on GoFundMe or our website Libraries4Kids.org. We also accept checks payable to Libraries For Kids, Int'l. Mail to PO Box 1013, Bluffton, SC 29910.
DONATE A BOX
It costs about $250 to ship a box of books to Kenya. You can help by funding the shipment of a box of books. You can donate at Libraries4Kids.org or mail a check payable to Libraries For Kids to PO Box 1013, Bluffton, SC 29910
PARTNER RECOGNITION
Many thanks to our partners who have supplied free services.
We are pleased to welcome our new Partner, Worix Media. James Worix is helping us with IT and media editing services.
Alan Flowers and Roman Surroundings are helping us spread the word about Libraries For Kids, Int'l. 70 Pennington Dr. Studio 16D Bluffton, SC 29910
Paul Uhls
BNC Graphics
19 Seventh Ave, Bluffton, South Carolina 29910 https://bncgraphics.com/
Supplied business cards and rack cards
Dan Russin
Store Manager Morningstar Storage 1110 Fording Island Rd Bluffton, SC 29910
Donated a 10ft x 10ft space for us to store books.
Allison Debs Lewis
Territory Account Manager Staples Advantage www.staplesadvantage.com
Staples has donated shipping boxes.
Libraries For Kids is an IRS tax- exempt 501 (c) (3) organization, so donations of books and money are tax-deductible.
Mission: The mission of Libraries For Kids is help schools with little or no internet access establish libraries and enhance learning opportunities for their students.
Vision: Libraries For Kids envisions helping rural schools in developing countries around the world.
Website: https://libraries4kids.org/ Thanks for your support and prayers for Libraries For Kids, Int’l. For more information, please contact Roy Austin at 843-597-4826.
Coach Roy Austin Founder/Chair
