Books For Africa

Books For Africa. A simple name for an organization with a simple mission. We collect, sort, ship, and distribute books to students of all ages in Africa. Our goal: to end the book famine in Africa.

Books For Africa remains the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent, shipping over 28 million books to 49 different countries since 1988. In 2012, we shipped 2.2 million books valued at $28.3 million to 22 African countries, with an additional 616 computers and 15 brand new law libraries.

It costs $10,300 to send a sea container to most major sea ports of books and computers to Africa. Your donation will enable Books For Africa to send even more books to children in Africa who are hungry to read, hungry to learn.

To learn more about groups currently fundraising to ship books to specific African countries, view the Projects page>>

Success Stories & News

Hover over a headline to view a photo and read more.

Contributing to the “Knowledge Economy” in Africa at Spring Fundraisers with Ambassador Rasool of South Africa

Books For Africa was honored to host His Excellency Ebrahim Rasool, Ambassador of South Africa to the United States, to join us as our keynote speaker for our annual fundraising events on May 15, 2013 in St. Paul, MN, USA. Representing one of the fastest growing economies in the world, His Excellency Rasool spoke of the importance of education and literacy in the rise of Africa.

The Stout Books For Africa Walk: Great Success!

For a man who made a living working with cars, Tom Warth, the founder of Books For Africa, sure does love to take walks. From April 26th-28th, 2013, Tom Warth and a contingency of BFA supporters took a hike from the University of Wisconsin Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin, to the Books For Africa office in St Paul, Minnesota, a total distance of 68 miles. Each walker carried a college level book donated by the university on the first part of its journey to Africa.

A Big Day for Chain of Hope Schools in Uganda

“The Books have arrived! THANK YOU! And as expected, the kids are super excited-they had to get a day off from study because they just couldn’t concentrate in class. The big truck (which the children thought was a bus!) couldn’t pass through the school gate so we had to ferry the books with another smaller vehicle to one of the classrooms as we await distribution to all beneficiaries.” - Agnes Igoye, container captain for Chain of Hope Uganda project

BFA books are Burundi bound!

For the first time in our history, Books For Africa has shipped books to Burundi! That means that we have now shipped 28 million books to schools and libraries in 49 different African countries. Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world. With 80% of the population living in poverty, very few people are able to attend school. Only 50% of Burundian children attend elementary school and only 8% of young adults attend secondary school.

Keeping Up with BFA Partners Around the U.S.

BFA Executive Director, Patrick Plonski, has been keeping busy visiting partners across the United States.

Success Story Archive> >

Books For Africa is a simple idea, but its impact is transformative. For us, literacy is quite simply the bridge from misery to hope.
— Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary-General

Books For Africa has earned its 5th consecutive 4-star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances. Only 4% of the charities we rate have received at least 5 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Books For Africa consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most other charities in America.
— Charity Navigator, 2011