Photos have been removed from this issue because of a law in Kenya requiring strict documentation for photos and videos featuring school children.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Focus on the Objective, not the obstacle" - Roy Austin
Greetings! Here is the June 2021 issue of the Libraries For Kids, Int'l monthly e-newsletter. Thanks for your interest and support. Kuwa mwema na wasaidie kujifunza (Be kind and help them learn)
Roy Austin, Founder/Chair
EVERYTHING IS FIGUREOUTABLE
Great book by Marie Foleo
Tseikuru Primary School
Tseikuru Primary is one of 156 new schools that now have libraries thanks to Libraries For Kids, Int'l.
After much delay and jumping through government hoops, our Operations Coordinator, Wanjiku Francis overcame numerous challenges and got all the books in container #1 delivered to schools. In 4 towns, the teachers decided that it would be better to establish a community library that all the schools in the area, as well as parents, could utilize. Here are the comments of one parent, Mutisya Munywoki, about the impact of these books on the students. He is a little hard to understand at first so hang in there for 15 seconds.
IN THE NEWS
Sun City Hilton Head TV just did this story about Libraries For Kids, Int'l. Listen Here.
GOAL: 1 MILLION CHILDREN
The 8 containers we are shipping will create libraries in 1,600 schools impacting the lives of 250,000 children. But this is just the start. There are over 6,700 rural schools in Kenya with little or no internet or electricity so we need to fund 25 more containers. It costs $15,000 to ship the container and another $5,000 to deliver the books once the container arrives. On average there are 150 students per school. Your support can help over 1 million children get an education and have the opportunity for a better life.
A Little Goes A Long Way
A little goes a long way in Kenya. Here is how your donation can help.
- $6 will buy 1 textbook
- $24 will supply a child with textbooks in 4 subjects
- $35 will enable us to deliver books from our warehouse in Kenya to one school. Delivery is commonly done by motorcycle.
Just a few dollars a month helps. You can set up a recurring monthly donation on our website.
SCHOOL OF THE MONTH
NGELANI PRIMARY SCHOOL
Ngelani Primary School was established in 1972. It is located in the far eastern part of Kenya. The school is far from any cities and the region is peaceful and full of agricultural rich land. The school has 153 students ranging from pre-school to grades 1 through 8. Internet access in this region is a nightmare.
Headteacher Mwanzia Makuu has been there only 6 months. The school has not done well over the past few years due to some challenges in lack of essential resources like textbooks, storybooks, reference materials, enough infrastructure e.g. latrines, and classes. Here is the average student performance over the last 4 years on the national exams:
2017 - 210.62 2018 - 179.41 2019 - 164.00 2020 - 211.65 (29% increase)
Makuu credits the jump in 2020 scores in part to receiving books from Libraries For Kids, Int’l. His plan to improve the school performance is through:
1) Organize for Remedials or Preps for pupils early in the morning and late in the evening.
2) Sensitize parents to support and motivate teachers and pupils.
Makuu says "The school has potential strength for doing well which I am implementing measures to improve performance. I hope soon things are going to take another direction." If the 2020 scores are an indication his efforts are paying off.
NOTE: Students in Kenya take annual exams and their scores determine whether the student can advance to the next level. A score of at least 300 out of a possible 500 is required to advance. The schools that Libraries For Kids, Int’l has supplied with books report that scores are improving, enrollment is up, and parents are coming in the evening for education.
Here are pictures of Ngelani.
TESTIMONIAL Wanjiku Francis, Libraries For Kids, Int'l's Operations Coordinator in Kenya
From: Wanjiku Francis Sent: Thursday, April 8, 2021 3:50 PM To: Roy Austin <books@libraries4kids.org> Subject: Re: FW: Article
Teachers have reported having an easier time helping kids learn new words thanks to the encyclopedias. Previously a teacher would come to class, list a few words on the blackboard and distribute two-three dictionaries to the whole class. The presence of the storybooks has challenged the children to want to read and practice speaking English. Teachers are happy to open the school library once every week for the students to borrow different books during the lockdown (those in grade 6-8 visit frequently and in large numbers. They also hold study groups at the schools whenever possible). For many schools in the rural areas, the parents can't afford to buy textbooks and have to rely on the little provided by the government ($5.50 per student per year). Libraries For Kids Int'l is truly God-Sent.
NOTE: Unlike here in the US, parents in Kenya have to pay fees for their children to attend school at all grade levels.
Smile.Amazon For Kids
You can support Libraries For Kids, Int'l with your Amazon purchases. It's easy.
Set up an account at Smile.Amazon.com. It is the same as a regular Amazon account except that you have the option to designate a charity. Please designate Libraries For Kids, Intl. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to your charity. The donation comes from Amazon, not you. When you place an order, login to Smile.Amazon and proceed as you normally would with any other Amazon purchase.
Thanks for your help.
PS - For more information about Libraries For Kids, Int'l visit our website or contact Roy Austin at books@libraries4kids.org or phone him at 843-597- 4826.
HELP: Please donate so we can get the books to the schools once they arrive in Kenya. Each container will create libraries in 150 to 200 schools. When the books arrive in Kenya it costs about $35 to deliver them to a school.
Please contribute $35 to get books to a school.
We've come so far and cleared so many hurdles. Please help us clear this next hurdle and get the books delivered to the schools.
Consider a legacy gift as part of your estate planning.
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others is immortal.
NEW BOARD MEMBER
Ng'ang'a Wanjohi
We are delighted to welcome Ng'ang'a Wanjohi to the Libraries For Kids Board of Directors. Ng'ang'a is helping us with several projects in Kenya including the distribution of books and constructing a school building for Marothiley Primary School. He is an active member of the Lavington Jioni Rotary Club and has served in several leadership roles.
Ng’ang’a has been the CEO of Kaskazi Network Ltd in Nairobi Kenya since 2000. Kaskazi provides retail distribution services. He received a Bachelor of Commerce-Marketing degree from the University of Nairobi.
Ng'ang'a (pronounced nanga) brings a local perspective to help us insure we are doing what people there need, not what we might thing they need.
SPREAD THE WORD
Please, spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends and contacts, or posting excerpts from this newsletter, or our website, (copy/paste) on your social media accounts.
Together we can make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of children. CHARITY NAVIGATOR
Recently I was asked why Libraries For Kids, Int'l is not rated by Charity Navigator. We are listed on their site (click here) but they do not rate a charity until after they have filed 3 consecutive 990's (tax returns). We are just 2 years old so they will not rate us until after we file our 990 for 2021 next year in 2022.
Lavington Jioni Rotary Club
We are excited to report that we have partnered with the Lavington Jioni Rotary Club in Nairobi, Kenya. They will be assisting us with receipt, stamping, repacking, and delivering the container books to schools. They are coordinating activities with all of the 40 other Rotary Clubs in Kenya to help Libraries
For Kids, Int'l. Click here for their Facebook page.
What does your donation accomplish?
Libraries For Kids, Int'l offers not a handout, but a hand up. Parents in rural Kenya pay tuition for their children to go to school. It is a huge sacrifice when your income is derived from a subsistence farm or your herd of sheep, goats, or cattle. But it is a testament to their hunger for knowledge.
The Kenyan government gives each rural school $5.50 per student per year. For a school with a student population of 100 that is $550.00 per year to pay for the school's expenses
(teacher salaries, textbooks, supplies, etc.) As a result, textbooks and libraries are lacking.
How can people lift themselves up and solve their problems without knowledge?
Your donations are helping children in Kenya, and hopefully someday other countries, to help themselves.
I hope you will consider Libraries For Kids, Int'l.
Media Attention
WTOC TV
Bluffton, SC Chamber of Commerce Spotlight
Please share these stories with your friends and on your social media platforms. Thanks
For more news about Libraries For Kids, Int'l visit our website
For videos please visit our YouTube channel by clicking HERE.
SPEAKING
We love telling the Libraries For Kids, Int'l story. If your organization needs a speaker please contact us at books@libraries4kids.org or phone us at 843-597-4826. We look forward to sharing our story with your group.
Donor Honor Roll
Our Donor Honor Roll is based on cumulative contributions. No matter what level you are on, you are important. But your continuing support is also vital. We hope you will continue to contribute and gradually move to a higher level on the honor roll. A little each month and you will soon be at the next level. You can now set up a monthly donation HERE. You can also make a tribute gift in honor or memory of someone. There are a lot of new names on the honor roll this month and several people who have moved up to the next level.
So far we have received donations of money or services from 248 people or organizations located in:
Five Countries: Australia, France, Kenya, Northern Mariana Islands, USA
29 States: AK, AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IN, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Click Here to see the full donor Honor Roll
Here are the different honor roll levels and who is on each level. The Swahili word is in parenthesis.
Meerkat (Meerkat)
Donated books and/or money.
So far there are 138 Meerkats. Click
here [to see them all. Some of you are](/about/honor-roll/)
close to the Zebra level so please consider an additional donation.
Zebra (Punda Milia) - $100 or more
To date there are 73 Zebras. Click here to see them all
Impala (Pala) - $500 or more
Delores Ackerman Anonymous Benton Bowen Kirk Fox Jim & Karen Ralston Gary Shepard Rick & Cindy Jacobs Susan Kreick
Giraffe (Twiga) - $1,000 or more
Den & Jan Austin Charleston CFO Council Ed & Betty Eich Elwood Barnes Kirk Fox Mickaylla McDonald JR & Betty Rutherford Janice Allinder-Anestes Ty & Suzanne Giesemann
Oryx (Choroa)- $2,500 or more
Marilyn Moore Steve & Ruth Dexter
Rhinoceros (Kifaru): $5,000 or more
Sable Antelope (Mfano Mzuri): $7,500 or more
Cheetah (Duma): $10,000 or more
Rick & Becky Harris
Leopard (Chui) - $25,000 or more
Dr. David Stallings
Lion (Simba) - $50,000 or more
Roy & Sharron Austin
Elephant (Tembo) - $100,000 or more
Maasai Club - $250,000 or more
The Maasai are among the foremost African ethnic groups and are known internationally because of their links to the national parks and reserves. They respect the land and are adapting to the changing world around them.
Sharron Austin Society - $500,000 or more
Sharron was an inspiration to Libraries For Kids, Int’l Founder Roy Austin. Her life philosophy was “Life is not the way it is supposed to be. It is the way it is. How you cope with it is what makes the difference.” Her smile, positive attitude, and ability to overcome numerous challenges in her life are an inspiration to all. She died on March 29, 2020. She is sorely missed but her spirit lives on. She was an enthusiastic supporter and donor to Libraries For Kids, Int’l.
MEET OUR PARTNERS
We are blessed to have several partners who have donated their time and services.
Paul Soviero, Owner, Next Move HHI is helped us find bookcases for our storage location. http://www.nexmovehhi.com/index.php
James Worix, owner of Worix Media is helping us with IT and media editing services.
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 and packing tape
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 The Stations call-in # 843-800-1492; Office # 843- 505-8513 https://www.talkoneradio.com/
