Success Stories Archive

Books For Africa Delivers Books to Schools in Dakar, Senegal

In February 2010, Carole Patrikakos of Books For Africa delivered English reference and reading books to classrooms in Dakar, Senegal. The books will support the English teachers’ resilient efforts to teach classrooms packed with up to 60 students. The high school students are eager to learn English so they can enter the job market with some proficiency. Click on the link above for more info and to view a slideshow...

Students at Saint Martin De Porres Girls' College in Nigeria Welcome BFA Books

Students and faculty at Saint Martin De Porres Girls' College in Nigeria recently received over 20,000 BFA books. Reverend John Wangbu writes: "Words are inadequate to express our joy for your magnanimity. Our ultimate goal is to become a centre of excellence—in character and learning, to nurture the intellectual faculties, develop a capacity for sound judgment, and introduce the girls to the wise cultural heritage left behind by our former generations. By your donation, you have contributed and helped us in realizing our mission objective." Click on the link above to view more photos...

Support an African Student's Education in 1 Minute

On The Leesh Productions in New York prepared this video showcasing how you can support BFA's efforts using only 1 minute of your time. Click on the link above for more info...

Pam Shelton, BFA's Key Partner in Botswana, Featured in More Magazine

Pam Shelton, founder of Botswana Book Project, has been a key partner of Books For Africa since she distributed her first BFA container in 1999. Click on the link above to read a great feature article about Pam's work in More magazine and to visit the Botswana Book Project website.

U.S. Marines Deliver 2nd BFA Shipment to Rural Schools in Africa

A second shipment of approximately 22,000 BFA books has arrived at Djibouti port in Africa, and U.S. Marines have begun to deliver the books to rural schools in the region. The first shipment was distributed in the spring of 2009. According to Chief Warrant Officer Jay Testa: "Americans are better off than third-world countries are, and if we can provide assistance in some way to make their lives better, especially with a long-term benefit like educational material, then it’s our duty as people."

Moroccan Students Hone Their English Skills Thanks to OPEC Grant

Thanks to a generous grant from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Books For Africa sent approximately 22,000 books to Al Mansour Dhahbi Secondary School in Morocco in 2009. Mr. Mustapha Walaf, Secondary School EFL Teacher, oversaw distribution of the books to his school and other neighboring schools. In January 2010, BFA Executive Director Patrick Plonski visited the recipient schools accompanied by Mr. Walaf. Click on the link above for more info and to view photos and video…

BFA’s Patrick Plonski Meets with Partners in Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco

Books For Africa Executive Director Pat Plonski visited partners and potential partners in Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco in January of 2010. His trip was covered by the largest newspapers in Ghana and Morocco. Click on the link above to view some photos from this trip...

Cape Town Students Receive Over 20,000 BFA Books Thanks to Donaldson Company

Thanks to generous funding from Donaldson Company, students in the South Africa are now the proud owners of over 20,000 BFA books. The Rotary Club of Kirstenbosch handled the distribution of the shipment. Some of the books were donated to the Shine Centre in Cape Town, who gave books to multiple schools in the area. Click on the link above for more info and to view photos…

27,000 Capstone Publishers Books on Way to Africa

More than 27,000 high-quality illustrated children’s books are headed to Africa thanks to Capstone Publishers in Mankato, Minnesota, USA. The 27,000 books have a retail value of $14.99 each. “It’s part of the culture of this company to give back. We value literacy,” said Lisa Hanson, Capstone’s director of human resources and community giving. Please click on the link above for more info and to view more photos…

Invisible Children Stocks Libraries in Gulu, Uganda

The NGO Invisible Children recently began distributing a shipment of BFA books to libraries in eleven of its partner schools in Gulu, Uganda. According to their blog: “In Uganda, like many other countries in East Africa, students have next-to-no access to reading materials while at school. Making books available is the first part of the reading culture equation.” Click on the link above for more info…

In Kenya, we were in a small village and the students had a wonderful school. They were eager to learn. They had motivated teachers, but they didn’t have any books in the school. They had no library. And so, imagine how proud I was to open up this box of shiny new encyclopedias and dictionaries from Books For Africa. They want more of your books. They can’t wait. They can’t get enough of these books.
— U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (MN)

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