Success Stories Archive

Peace Corps + BFA = Tremendous Success in Africa!

"At first, I thought the students were mocking me with their enthusiasm to learn," said Sal Tavolilla, a Peace Corps Volunteer based in Njinikom, a small village in Cameroon. "But I soon learned that their interests were absolutely sincere. They understand the sacrifices their families make in order that they may go to school and they know it is a privilege to attend school."

Celebrate International Book Giving Day this February 14th!

Give more than candy hearts this Valentine’s Day by celebrating International Book Giving Day! There are many ways that you can share books with those you love, and people all around the world. Be creative! Find a fun way to share books that you love.

The Sierra Leone Book Trust and Peace Corps Bring Books to Sierra Leone

The Sierra Leone Book Trust (SALBOT) is a long time partner of Books For Africa. As a part of their most recent shipment of BFA books, SALBOT donated about 4,000 books to the U.S. Peace Corps in Sierra Leone to be distributed to schools throughout the country. This is the second time that SALBOT has worked with Peace Corps – Sierra Leone, having donated 5,000 books in 2012.

Books For Africa and Little Free Library Form Partnership to Ship “Little Libraries” to Africa

Books For Africa and Little Free Library, two area nonprofits, have formed a unique partnership to raise money to send more than 2,000 “Little Free Libraries” to Africa over the next several years. The two groups will ask local organizations, businesses, schools and individuals to raise the $1,000 needed to design, build and ship a unique one of a kind Little Free Library and books valued at $1,000. The sponsor will receive a Taking Stock Certificate stating they funded a library and its contents in Africa and a sponsor recognition sign will be located on the Library itself.

No Shelves Needed!

These books were sent to schools throughout The Gambia. The Better Community Association, who organized the shipment, used the boxes that the books were shipped in as shelves to display all 22,000 books so that teachers, school officials, and community members could hand pick the books to put in their libraries.

U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers Bring Books to Students in Ethiopia

A study conducted in Ethiopia found that a large percentage of children are illiterate in English even though it is a required school subject for all Ethiopian students. This is largely because students lack access to English reading materials both at school and at home. The Early Grade Reading Centers project was created by a group of U.S. Peace Corp volunteers based in Ethiopia to bring English books to students.

Books For Africa works with the U.S. Navy to send books to Central Africa!

Through Project Handclasp, the U.S. Navy works with NGOs like Books For Africa to deliver relief supplies worldwide. Ten pallets of books from BFA were delivered by the U.S. Navy to students who need them to advance their study of English.

BFA Founder travels to Nigeria to celebrate work with our major partner, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation

Founder of BFA Tom Warth, BFA board member Mike Essien, and former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Derek Jeter visited Nigeria to see the great work being done there by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) this October. Tom and Mike visited Sir Offor, the founder and namesake of the Foundation, to participate in a special event to celebrate the receipt of the most recent shipment of 16 containers of books to Nigeria.

NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo joins BFA for Voices for Literacy Day

“Each day one in three children in Africa cannot afford to go to school and 70% of those out of school are girls. From antiquity to this day, women have shown that they are brilliant and formidable leaders. However, the literacy rate of women particularly in developing countries continues to lag behind the literacy rate of men. We know that there are even some countries where girls have to be educated in secret for fear of their lives. The education of girls is paramount in the fight against poverty, infant, child and maternal mortality and national under-development.”

The NFL’s Atlanta Falcons Land in the BFA Warehouse!

BFA was selected as one of twelve lucky organizations to have members of the Atlanta Falcons join us as volunteers as a part of their “Hometown Huddle” community service initiative! Sporting their jerseys and enthusiastic attitudes, fourteen Falcons rookies came into the BFA Atlanta warehouse to sort and pack books.

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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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