The Book Project recently bid farewell to its President Josephine Barry Hicks, who has moved to Singapore with her husband. She was a dedicated and hardworking leader, and a valuable asset to the organization. Josephine earned the confidence of the newcomers in her own unique manner and will be missed by all the volunteers and friends. We wish her all the best for the future. Hilary Welch has already taken charge and has made it obvious that the project is once again in good hands.
Every year, three to four large shipments are packed and shipped with the help of the World Bank. However, smaller shipments are also organized by individual sponsors who seek the help of the project to provide them with the required number of boxes of suitable books. Books are being packed for schools in the southern parts of Sudan at present, and shipments for other destinations in need are being planned accordingly.
Books for Sudan
Sudan was identified as the second country to receive a shipment in 2008. Our partner for this shipment was the Sudan American Foundation for Education, SAFE. Recipients are usually elementary or junior schools, intermediate and secondary or high schools. The project also sends books for student or village libraries. The request for Sudan, however, was to help universities in that country. Some university books were already available to us, but our volunteer Donations Manager set about looking for more. American University was the major donor.
The original intention was to ship to southern Sudan where the books would help re-establish a university. Timing for the shipment to reach the nearest port and be transported to southern Sudan was critical, as it had to be before the rains came. But unrest came to the region first, and fighting became a renewed possibility, so we looked again at how we might help students in Sudan. Working with our US contact from SAFE Inc., we identified Ahfad University for Women in Omdurman, as distributor and a recipient institution. This university has outreach with campuses in the south of Sudan so some books will reach that poorest of troubled areas. About 50 boxes of books for several schools were also included in the shipment. All 23 skids, enough to fill a 40ft container, were shrink wrapped and then collected from our packing room at the end of August. They will have reached Port Sudan by the end of September.
New Warehouse in Sterling
With two shipments on their way, it was time to review the inventory. Our packing room is big, but not big enough to store the large donations we receive from some schools and school systems, so we are grateful for the space provided to us at the World Bank warehouse in Sterling, VA. The Book Project depends on these large donations, but they reach the warehouse as a mixed load, sometimes a very peculiar mixed load. A small group of volunteers spent a day at the warehouse opening the boxes, checking the contents, labeling the boxes and counting the skids. This means that as we pack for the next country, we can order from the warehouse the skids with the books we really need for that shipment. Cameroon and Malawi are the anticipated destinations for the next large shipments for this financial year.
Smaller Shipments for Jamaica
Claudette du Cran, a former Bank staffer is a dedicated sponsor who has interacted with the Book Project for nearly a decade. Her concern for the school children who are in dire need of books in her hometown in Jamaica, has motivated Claudette to organize small shipments periodically. With help from the Book Project, she personally sorts and packs books for children between the ages of 11 and 18. She has also facilitated the distribution of the books to the schools through reliable sources in Jamaica. Claudette has also travelled to her hometown, visited the schools and brought back photographs and letters of gratitude from the recipients.
Volunteers Welcome
The Book Project at JB-3; ROOM 105, is operated by volunteers who belong to the World Bank. Their main goal is to support education through donated books to developing countries. The volunteers are part of a wonderful team. They all belong to the World Bank and they all understand the importance of education to children in developing countries and the value and joy the books bring. In past years the Book Project has closed during the summer months, but this year the volunteers decided it should be business as usual through July and August. They were joined by a small band of students who came regularly, were cheerful and hardworking, and helped the packing process keep momentum.
The Book Project can always use more volunteers, even a few hours a week helps. Come and join us especially if you are from the next destinations of Cameroon or Malawi!
The Book Project is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday, 10am to 3pm. Telephone: +1 202 473 8960 or visit our Contact us page for more info.
by Sue Ramachandran