The Sponsor plays a key role in the flow of books from our Packing Room to the children and is our partner for the recipient country. He/she ensures and vouches for the safety of the whole shipment and the proper distribution of the books.

The Sponsor may be an individual or organization, often and ideally an NGO established in the country, willing and able to take responsibility for a container of 17,000 to 30,000 books from  the time it reaches the country’s port of entry, through the distribution of books to the final destinations at the designated schools, libraries and/or institutions. He/she must have a representative or partner in Washington DC or be the partner himself/herself.

The Potential Sponsor is involved in the process from the very beginning. He/she must personally speak to the Book Project Co-Chairs to be vetted. Upon approval he/she must complete a “Country Book Request Form” provided by the Co-Chairs (Excel file). This form includes a list of approximately 20-25 educational institutions to include schools (K, Primary, Secondary, and College/University Levels) and libraries as end receivers of the books, population of the institution, level of education and, age of students, and book needs. Once this list is provided, the Book Project will work with the Sponsor to determine the size of the donation (17,000 or 30,000 books) and the allocation to each institution. It is the WBFN Book Project’s expectation that the Sponsors are aware and adhere to our Policy of supporting girls’ education as much as boys’ education.

The Shipment Sponsor is responsible for all costs related to clearing customs, storage and other related fees, moving the container from the port, delivering it to the distribution point and keeping the books safely stored until they are distributed to, or collected by, the recipient institutions. Sponsors may enlist the aid of local service organizations such as Rotary or different NGOs, to help defray the port and transportation costs. These agreements are arranged between the local parties and the Book Project has no part in the negotiations. The Book Project does not pay any handling fees, port charges or any charges related to the cost of overland transport in the recipient country. These costs are the responsibility of the Sponsor. The Sponsor’s knowledge of the country, the school system, and the needs of each school is crucial in helping the Book Project assess the eligibility of a country or region for a shipment.

The criteria for selection as a Sponsor

• Access to/presence in and knowledge of the recipient country
• Solid reputation for honesty and reliability
• Possession of or ability to raise funds to meet all costs
• Ability to contract a Consignee if necessary
• Understanding of country CUSTOM procedures
• Ability to move a large container to safe storage
• Organizational skills to distribute the books in a timely manner

Once the shipment is ready to leave Washington DC, the Sponsor will be alerted to the routing, estimated time of arrival, and other shipping details by email/phone and the relevant documents will be sent by courier (or personally handed over to the Shipment Sponsor) so they are ready and available for the container’s arrival at the port of entry. Sailings typically take from six to eight weeks.

As the main point of contact with the institutions, the Shipment Sponsor is asked to confirm the arrival and distribution of the boxes of books. He/she is responsible for providing timely feedback in the form of photos, video and any other form possible demonstrating how the books were received by the children, how they are used, and how they enhance the children’s learning experience.