Alumni reach out through Africa Book Project

By Erin Mason

According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, a book is “a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.”

For Africa Book Project volunteers–five of who are U of C alumni–books symbolize education and the opportunity for a better life for millions of African children and adults.

Since 2003, Africa Book Project (ABP) has sent about 100,000 books to Kenya and Tanzania. Run solely by volunteers, ABP’s next shipment of 20 pallets of books is destined for libraries in Sierra Leone later this year. ABP is also working with U.S.-based Ethiopia Reads to raise funds to establish a library is Addis Ababa and purchase books locally.

Billy Wu, BSc'06, MSc'09 and PhD candidate, is an ABP volunteer because he believes in ABP’s mission and wants to give back. “I am privileged to have the life I have,” he says. “I encourage people to go out of their way and spread their wealth whether they give time, money, books or expertise.” ABP’s other U of C alumni volunteers are: Barb Briggs, BA’98 and ABP president; Ben Berhe, ABP vice-president and 2002 graduate of Haskayne’s Executive Management program; Alan Tong, BA’00 and Raksha Vasudevan, BComm’09. Current U of C psychology student and future alumna Donya Pashapour also volunteers with ABP.

ABP volunteers recently spent two weekends sorting books for the upcoming shipment to Sierra Leone. The shipment is a partnership with the Sierra Leone Library Board and the books will be placed in a new library. Maple Leaf Self Storage, ABP’s newest corporate sponsor, donated storage space for ABP to store book donations between shipments.

"Donors and corporate sponsors such as Maple Leaf Self Storage are vital to making the shipments of books possible," Barb Briggs. "With such a small operating budget, not only do we have to be efficient and resourceful, but we rely heavily on a strong network of volunteers and supporters that share our belief that books are key to unlocking the limitless potential of all children."

ABP is currently looking for generous corporate sponsors, committed volunteers and book donations. Click here to read more and get involved or email bbriggs [at] africabookproject [dot] org.