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
EVERYTHING IS FIGUREOUTABLE
Great book by Marie Foleo
Greetings! Here is the July 2021 issue of the Libraries For Kids, Int'l monthly e-newsletter. Thanks for your interest and support. 300 More Libraries
Containers numbers 2 & 3 have arrived at our warehouse in Kitui Kenya and are being processed for distribution to more schools. We estimate that the 88,000 books in these containers will create libraries in over 300 schools. Right now they are being sorted and stamped. All of the books have to be stamped with the tag "not for sale." It is a very manual process and requires a lot of volunteers. Click here for a short video of the stamping process. Distribution of the books will begin in the next few days.
WHAT DO WE BELIEVE
We are not affiliated with any political party, political movement, social movement, or religious system. We exist to give children the opportunity to improve their knowledge through education.
We believe:
All children should have the opportunity to better themselves through education. Therefore, we dedicate ourselves to improving educational opportunities.
Children are children regardless of race, nationality, religion, sex, ethnic background, or any other delineation. Therefore, we pledge to help all children.
We exist to help improve educational opportunities for children. Therefore, we will not discriminate against any child for any reason.
Discrimination of any kind or on any basis is immoral and unacceptable. Therefore, we will not discriminate against any individual, employee, volunteer, or anyone else for any reason.
Helping people help themselves is our goal. Education is the best vehicle to help people help themselves.
SCHOOL OF THE MONTH Shidley Primary School
The school was established in 2010. It is a mixed day school with an enrollment of 200. The inhabitants of the Shidley ecosystem are pastoralists some of whom don't value education and that hinders enrollment. However, progress is being made.
Challenges 1. Lack of administration block 2.inadequate latrines pits/toilets 3.shortage of learning materials 4.lack of school library 5.lack of playground and sports kits
From: Mohamed guul Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2021 12:49 AM To: Roy Austin Subject: Re: Wire
Hi Mr. Roy, we are all safe and sound. The books we received helped learners to develop a reading culture and improve their vocabulary acquisition and enhanced their composition and writing, and that ultimately boosted their academic performance. Regards from Shidley much obliged.
Mohamed Guul, Headteacher, Shidley Primary School
Here is a thank you video from a student at Shidley.
Here is a video of Shidley students playing hide and seek.
Children are the same the world over.
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.
TESTIMONIAL
The Libraries for Kids project has really helped our learners. When we received books starting from the first that we bought with the money you sent, the book to student ratio went up and it made learning easier.
When again you sent the other storybooks and the encyclopedias we created a small school library which serves as a resource place and has started to arouse the reading interest to the learners especially those who like history and the English language. We really appreciate your effort to support the school
Best regards. Joyce Nanetia Headteacher, Amboseli Primary School
PS - Joyce made a $20 donation to Libraries For Kids, Int'l. I consider it to be the most generous donation ever made. When I asked her about it she said "We give not because we have. We have because we give."
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. This link will take people directly to smile.amazon.com in support of Libraries For Kids, Int'l.
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 at our warehouse in Kiyui, Kenya it costs about $5,000 to deliver all the books in a container, or about $35 per 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.
Meet our Board
Gary Jeger
Gary is our IT director and is helping us build databases to track our progress. He is a cybersecurity expert and is a retired Senior Vice President, Information Systems- Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Bluffton, SC
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 are assisting us with receipt, stamping, repacking, and delivering the container books to schools. They are also 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 schools 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. Leave a Legacy
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others is immortal. Consider a legacy gift as part of your estate planning. 100 years from now no one will remember who we are or what we did. The only true legacy any of us can leave is the positive impact on the lives of others.
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 250 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 140 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 72 Zebras. Click here to see them all
Impala (Pala) - $500 or more
Delores Ackerman Anonymous Benton Bowen Eddie Federwisch 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 Ed Zimmerman
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 has 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. Printing our brochures and business cards at cost.
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 Alan Kwiatkowski 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/
