UPDATE: 2ND JUNE 2011

Dear Liz, Jill, Jas, Jeremy, Andrew, Dom, Edward, Mr Hardwick and Nicola

Before you grab a good book and escape for a holiday we wanted to firstly say thank-you for supporting Book Aid International and for sending books to Africa and we wanted to share some of the difference you made.

See The Difference is all about getting close to the people you help, so Rob, Book Aid International’s Head of Programmes, has been to Ethiopia to see first-hand how your help (and that of many others) is changing lives, so we’d like to share one of his blog posts…

23/5/11 - Day one

Today I’ve visited Dembela High School library and even though our books have only recently arrived, they are already organised and on the shelves. The library is busy with enthusiastic students, one of whom is Biniam Beneberu Ayere.

Biniam tells me that, “in my class there a lot of students that have a lack of habit of reading and lack the knowledge they need. So how can I get these kinds of knowledge? Because of this library. Before this library was opened, I had no habit of reading but because of you and the initiatives of our teachers, we come here to read and we read a lot of books and get a lot of knowledge…so let us read and let’s change our lives, let’s change our country, and let’s help our families.” 

24/5/11 - Day two

Today we’re in Mojo and then Alem Tena to see two of CODE Ethiopia’s reading rooms. We have been working with CODE Ethiopia for 12 years and provided over 100,000 books for their reading room programme, which has helped established community libraries all over Ethiopia. The two libraries I visit have about 4,500 books so far after four years of support and are busy with students, one of whom is Ashenah Jambo from Mojo High School.

Ashenah likes the library because there are a range of textbooks and wider reference books which will not only help him to pass exams but ultimately to become a professor at university. He tells me that “textbooks are not enough” because “you should refer to different sources to develop your ability and adapt your knowledge”.

25/5/11 - Day three

Today I’m discussing potential support to an organisation we have not previously worked with, the Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO). JeCCDO works with a wide range of community based organisations and would also benefit from our  ‘Books for Development’ programme which provides specialist books for NGOs and community organisations in areas such as agriculture, HIV-AIDS, natural resource management and capacity building.

26/5/11 - Day four

I arrive at a prison on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. The reason of course is that wherever our books go, we need to follow.

The prison is very impressive and has a strong rehabilitation programme including technical and vocational skills such as carpentry and weaving workshops, an education programme ranging from high school studies to accountancy and IT as well as an IT lab. There are two libraries – one for prisoners studying for high school examinations and one for vocational and professional studies. Books for children are needed because mothers have to keep their children with them in prison if there is no family to look after them. 

27/5 - Day five

Another day criss-crossing Addis, this time to see a few more public libraries, a school library and a mothers’ and children charity. Addis is becoming a huge city and the City Council’s plans for libraries are big – there must be well over 100 now. The one I see today is located in an almost built four storey youth centre, which will be an impressive facility once complete, containing a café, games centre, IT lab, community hall, as well as the library.

Thanks again and please do help spread the word if you can about our other project on See The Difference supporting the libraries in the slums of Nairobi and if you want to keep up-to-date with Book Aid International click here to read our blog.

Have a great summer!

Jacqui Scott, Head of Fundraising & Communications, Book Aid International