The mission of the African Library Project is to change lives book by book, together with partners in Africa and North American volunteers, to create, improve, and sustain libraries in African communities. Libraries serve and provide much needed opportunities to build literacy and a reading culture where books and libraries are sparse. 

We are actively seeking volunteers to organize book drives to collect and ship books. Our model is simple: collect, pack and ship 1,000 gently used children’s books and raise about $650 to cover shipping. On our Partner side, we'll take care of ensuring recipients have the proper space and shelving to accommodate the books and provide teacher-librarian training.

Books your troop collects are shipped to New Orleans, Louisiana where they are packed into a shipping container that will reach our Partners who handle the distribution of the books and train teachers to become teacher-librarians. Libraries will benefit hundreds of children and many more for years to come.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has diminished our book drive efforts, particularly in schools in North America. We urgently need Organizers to register for Ghana and Malawi. If you’re able to volunteer as a Book Drive Organizer, I encourage you to sign-up today. Or if you can post this opportunity on your organizations listing of project opportunities, I would happily share with you any further details needed.

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up as a Book Drive Organizer to create libraries to make progress on our mission. We're calling on all Troops to consider working with us as one of your service projects. Will you join us in making a huge difference by changing lives book by book?

We're aiming to create 120 new libraries with these first two containers in the new year. We 40 more sign-ups this winter. If you're able to help, please sign up today to make your commitment. 

Ghana: February 15, 2023
 

Malawi: March 15, 2023