Africa Book Project is a volunteer-based charitable organization that aims to support education in Africa through the collection and distribution of books and educational materials. We work primarily with rural and community-based schools that receive little or no government funding and have very limited educational resources. Canadian school boards, libraries and individuals donate text and early reading books, which are sent to the schools and distributed. We have sent over 100,000 books to schools in Kenya and Tanzania.

Brief History

In 2002, Jodi Facette attended a wedding in Mombasa, Kenya. As part of her trip, she traveled around the countryside and visited schools. She was appalled at the state of the schools. Schools were cramped and overflowing with children eager to learn. The teachers had very little educational resources available to them and made do with what was available. Text books were scarce as were reading books. Jodi wondered how these teachers and children managed each day.

When she returned home, she was determined to help the children. Based on input provided by the teachers, Jodi came up with the idea to collect used books and ship them to schools in Kenya. Her mother had been a librarian for a number of years and helped her formulate her plan. She began contacting schools and individuals in Calgary and soon had enough books to fill an entire 20 foot container!

Initially eight schools were selected to receive the books. These were some of the schools that Jodi had visited on her first trip. The books and other supplies were received with great jubilation. We have continued to send supplies to the initial eight schools and receive requests from other schools for support.

In 2007, we sent our first shipment to the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Programs

Book Collection - Each year we collect new and used books from Calgary public, separate, and private schools as well as schools in the Rocky View School Division. The books are typically collected at the end of the school year (April through July) and stored until they can be sorted, packed and shipped.

Kenyan Schools - We have provided books to 10 schools in the Mombasa area of Kenya including:

• Barania Primary School
• Kids Palace Kindergarten Kilifi
• Kikambala Primary School
  
• Mtomondoni Primary School
• Furaha Primary School
• Mtwapa Golden Key School
• Shariani Primary School
• Kaya Tiwi Secondary School
• Young Graduates School & Kindergarten
• Glerneed School

Tanzania  - In 2007, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education for the Republic of Zanzibar, we sent one container of books for distribution to disadvantaged schools on the island of Zanzibar.