Photos have been removed from this issue because of a law in Kenya requiring strict documentation for photos and videos featuring school children.
Mbagha Primary School
Do the books we put in rural schools have an impact on the students’ future? This is an important question. Unfortunately, we currently lack a direct method to measure the impact we are making. We shipped our first container in December 2020 and 20 more containers since then. We haven't been able to download any reports from the Kenyan Ministry of Education website. Even if we could get the annual test scores, the books haven't been there long enough to show significant impact, especially since our primary focus is on rural primary schools.
We focus on rural primary schools because research indicates that early education has a profound long term impact on a child's life.
A study done by Raj Chetty in Tennessee found that quality kindergarten through 3rd-grade education significantly impacted long-term earning potential. When we visit the schools (at our expense), we see the impact firsthand through conversations with teachers and students. Over the last 4 years, I have visited 37 rural schools. The teachers report significant improvement in students English skills. Often children stay late or come in early to read, and annual test scores are up! The most common comment I get from students is, "The books have helped me speak better English.”
When we brought books to the schools we visited this year, the kids immediately dove in and started reading. The warm and enthusiastic welcome we get is overwhelming and often bring tears to my eyes. Is Libraries for Kids, Int'l having an impact?
Absolutely!! These children will be future leaders, doctors, nurses, pilots, lawyers, etc. because they now see the broader world beyond their rural village.
Msorongo Primary School
NEWS FLASH
Due to a new Kenyan law that requires written consent from parents to use images of school children, we will no longer include such photos in our newsletter and on our website. Until we find a compliant way to use these images, we are removing all pictures of children from our publications.
TAX SAVING TIP
You can help Libraries For Kids, Int'l and reduce your tax bill by taking advantage of the attractive tax benefits of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD's) and Donor Advised Funds (DAF's). It's a "tax-smart" way to reinforce your support for us while making the most of your finances. Here is an overview of QCD's and DAF's and a link to articles to learn more.
Qualified Charitable Distributions:
If you are over 70 years old and take distributions from an IRA, you can reduce your income taxes and make a bigger impact by making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA. QCDs must be given directly from your IRA administrator to your favorite charity, so there is no need to make a withdrawal. Simply contact your administrator to set up the donation. The maximum annual qualified charitable distribution limit is $100,000 per person. A QCD can even help you comply with required minimum distribution rules!
Donor Advised Funds:
Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are like a special savings account solely for the purpose of charitable giving. You can make a charitable contribution to your account, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to 501c3 organizations over time. Can a single book make an impact? Read "The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind." It is a true story of a boy in Malawi who found a library miles from his home and in it a book on physics that he couldn't read. Yes, a single book can make a huge difference.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
BE A VOLUNTEER
For more information contact Roy Austin at 843-597-4826, or Laura Winkel at (609) 402-6025, or email us at book@libraries4kids.org
How you can help?
BE A VOLUNTEER
Your experience and time can contribute to improving the lives of millions of children in rural schools with limited resources. Here are some ways you can help:
Promoting and helping with events. Local School Outreach Project. Be an Ambassador. Help find and write grants. Help us find speaking engagements to share our story.
Events
o Sell tickets o Find sponsors o Distribute brochures to local businesses o Volunteer at events o Promote events
School Outreach We need help developing a local school program to educate students on what it is like to attend a rural school in Kenya.
Ambassador: Our ambassadors help raise awareness in a variety of ways about what Libraries for Kids, Int’l is doing. Time Commitment: As little or as much as you want. No meetings or time requirements. Simply forwarding this newsletter to friends and family can help.
Grants: Help find grant opportunities and write grant applications.
Spread The Word
You can also help us by liking and sharing our Facebook page, Instagram page, YouTube channel, website, and a video that tells our story HERE. Also, please share this newsletter with your friends.
Together we can make a huge difference in the lives of
millions of children.
Mungu Akubariki (God Bless You)
WHHI TV
Click HERE to watch the an interview with Laura Winkel and Roy Austin. Go to the WHHI TV YouTube page and search for Libraries For Kids, Int'l. to see previous interviews.
WHHI TV graciously invites us to be on the air once a month with updates on what we are doing to serve children in rural areas with limited or no internet, electricity, or school libraries.
These kids are hungry for knowledge. When we bring them books they dive into them.
Scroll down to see the Honor Roll of contributors whom we greatly appreciate.
Checks: If you prefer to donate with a check, please send it payable to Libraries for Kids, Int'l to PO Box 1013, Bluffton, SC 29910. We love checks - no credit card processing fees.
You can also donate on our website.
NEED A SPEAKER?
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.
SHORT TERM GOAL: 5 MILLION CHILDREN
Over 860,000 books have been shipped to Kenya and books have been delivered to 8,576 schools impacting the lives of approximately 2.1 million children plus their teachers, families, and communities.
There are about 20,000 rural primary and secondary schools in Kenya, with approximately 5 million students. We need to fund more containers.
Your support can help over 5 million children expand their educational opportunities and have the opportunity for a better life.
Our long-term vision is to help establish libraries in other countries in Africa.
PLEASE DONATE
Just a few dollars a month helps. You can set up a recurring monthly donation on our website.
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.
Consider a legacy gift as part of your estate planning. 100 years from now no one will remember who we were or what we did. The only true legacy any of us can leave is the positive impact on the lives of others. You can leave a lasting legacy in the lives of millions of children. ______________________________________
What does your donation accomplish?
Libraries For Kids, Int'l offers not a hand-out, 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 and their desire for their children to have a better life. Unfortunately, many parents cannot afford the tuition fees.
How can people lift themselves up and solve their problems without knowledge?
Your donations are helping millions of children in Kenya, and hopefully someday in other countries, to help themselves.
I hope you will consider Libraries For Kids, Int'l.
Media Attention
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.
WHAT 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.
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 set up a recurring monthly donation HERE. You can also make a tribute gift in honor or memory of someone.
Create a legacy by remembering Libraries For Kids, Int'l in your estate planning.
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 635 people or organizations located in:
7 Countries: Australia, France, Kenya, Northern Mariana
Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico, USA
35 States: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IN, IL, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WVA, WY
Click Here to see the full donor Honor Roll
We are indebted to and grateful for the individuals and businesses that have donated to Libraries for Kids, Int'l. Here are the different honor roll levels and who is on each level. The Swahili word is in parenthesis.
Meerkat (Meerkat) Donated books, in-kind services, or money.
So far there are 292 Meerkats.
Click here [to see them all. Some](/about/honor-roll/)
of you are close to the Zebra level so please consider an additional donation.
Zebra (Punda Milia) - $100 or more
To date, there are 211 Zebras.
Click here to see them all
Impala (Pala) - $500 or more
To date, there are 58 Impalas. Click
here to see them all
Giraffe (Twiga) - $1,000 or more
To date, there are 44 Giraffes.
Click here to see them all
Oryx (Choroa)- $2,500 or more
Bluffton United Methodist Church Den & Jan Austin Herb & Carol Egoroff Jim & Peg Forbes Gary & Dot Jeger George & Susan Kreick Shirley Mingledorff Phyllis Moorehead Darlene Morrison
Ed Dick & Chris Bookish Road Trip: Mary Helen Sheriff PayPal Giving Fund
Rhinoceros (Kifaru): $5,000 or more
- Elwood Barnes
- Low Country Taps
- Chick McIntyre
- Marilyn Moore
Sable Antelope (Mfano Mzuri): $7,500 or more
- JR & Betty Rutherford
- Morningstar Storage
Cheetah (Duma): $10,000 or more
Ed & Betty Eich Steve & Ruth Dexter Richard & GretaHoeksema Jim & Karen Ralston Bobbi & Matt Tenwolde doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation
Leopard (Chui) - $25,000 or more
- Dr. David Stallings
- Rick & Becky Harris
- Tito's Handmade Vodka
- Grand Circle Foundation
Lion (Simba) - $50,000 or more
Elephant (Tembo) - $100,000 or more
Sharron & Roy Austin
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.
DONATE TODAY
MEET OUR PARTNERS
We are blessed to have several partners who have donated their time and services.
Barbara Bricker Barbara graciously donates her services every year. She created our new logo, brochures, flyers, postcards, and ads for our sponsors. She is a retired graphic artist (Small Miracles Design) and currently sells real estate in NC and SC. https://www.newviewrealtyllc.com
Paul Soviero, Owner, Next Move HHI 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.
Morningstar Storage 1110 Fording Island Rd Bluffton, SC 29910
Donated a 10ft x 10ft space for us to store books.
