Race Equality - Books to South Africa
GIVE A BOOK - HELP BUILD A NATION
LATEST NEWS - APRIL 2005
For the latest update and news of a new appeal please click here
LATEST NEWS - OCTOBER 2004
The 50,000 books which were donated by people from across Warwickshire and sent to South Africa in February 2004 have now been claimed by 170 schools in Gauteng!
All of books were collected by the schools within six weeks of arriving in Gauteng. The teachers were very impressed with the excellent quality of the books donated, and the children were very excited to read them!!
FINAL REPORT
Please click here to read the Final Report from this event.
WE DID IT!!!
Total number of books collected = 50,298
We did it!!! The communities of Warwickshire donated over 50 000 children's books to send to South Africa These are now in Tilbury Docks and will then go to Durban before being distributed to schools in the Gauteng Province by the charity Community HEART www.community-heart.org.uk
Volunteers helped to sort, pack and load the books onto the shipping container at Montague Road and Manor Hall. Good teamwork ensured that the task was done efficiently and in good humour. The shipping container was able to set off two hours earlier than planned !
Fund raising has also been a success. We expect the project to break even.
The atmosphere at the celebration event was euphoric. 54 volunteers heard Eric Wood say that as well as 50 000 books to support the empowerment of learners in South Africa, Warwickshire had sent hope and inspiration to people in another Commonwealth country - a fantastic example of global citizenship in action.
James Plaskitt MP
MP James Plaskitt reflected on how delighted he was that a practical grass roots project involving so many Warwickshire communities would benefit learners in Africa at a crucial time in their history.
Councillor Susan Juned recalled living in Pakistan and the relish with which books were treasured. She commended Warwickshire communities for their generosity in giving books, money and time, enabling a real impact to be made.
Director of Libraries, Heritage and Trading Standards (Libraries and Heritage Homepage) Noel Hunter enthused about the value of books in a technological age and congratulated Education and Libraries on their partnership working.Libraries enabled the communities of Warwickshire to contribute books and money to the project.
Isobel McVicar, Director of Community HEART www.community-heart.org.uk explained what would happen to the donated books in South Africa.She emphasized that every single book would help South Africa to grow the teachers, doctors and journalists of tomorrow and congratulated Warwickshire in collecting 50 000 books over a 2 week period.
Gillian Cross, children's author stated how delighted she was to be involved with the project and reminded us how emotionally evocative books are. We were sending a box of delights to South Africa.
Finally the celebration cakes were cut as Councillor Richard Grant thanked all the speakers and volunteers and concluded an event which celebrated the teamwork of the Warwickshire family. Devinder, Liz and their community drumming group then closed the event with the rhytmic beat of African drums.
Thank you!!!
73 Schools and 24 Libraries across Warwickshire participated in the event, collecting a total of 50,298 books.
This breaks down as:
- 17,000 books were donated by the public at local libraries
- 29,831 books were donated by pupils, teachers and families through local schools
- 1,369 books were donated by WCC staff
- 2,098 were collected by various other contributors including Coventry LEA, and Warwickshire DISCS and ICSS.
- In addition, Queen Elizabeth School in Atherstone collected another 8 boxes of books, which were delivered to Minorities of Europe in Coventry, and will go towards the Coventry collection of books for Africa.
For a break down of how many books were collected by Warwickshire Schools, please click here.
Fundraising News
Judi Price, a teacher at Kenilworth School, was one of the teachers who went on the TIPD study visit to Africa. The school recently held a dress down day to raise money for Books for Africa, and raised a grand total of £1,137.
Pupils at Kingsbury Infant School have raised £100 towards the appeal.
Warwickshire LEA's ICSS (Intercultural Curriculum Support Service) has raised £200 towards the Books for Africa appeal.
DISCS (Disability, Illness, Sensory and Communication Service) in North Warwickshire have donated £73, the proceeds of a Christmas card sale and raffle.
Danny Owen left Warwickshire LEA on 30 January after 14 years' service. Danny requested that any money donated towards a leaving present is instead given to the Give a Book appeal.
The Suru Bhangra Dance Group and Ilanga African Drumming Group have donated a total of £320. The is the proceeds from recent performances.
Employees of Warwickshire Local Education Authority held a 'Green Dress Down Day' on Friday 6th Feb. This was to celebrate the launch of the Department's 'Green Guide' which aims to encourage employees to be environmentally friendly both in the workplace and at home. Employees each paid £1 to turn up at work in casual clothes (preferably green!), with all proceeds going to Give a Book. LEA employees also raised £396.18 at their Christmas Carol Service.
Press Cuttings
Please click on the links below to read local press coverage of this appeal across Warwickshire
50,000 Books on way to South Africa
Author Backs Book Appeal
Donate a Book to Help Africa
Fantastic Response to Books for South Africa Appeal
Pupils find 50,000 books for appeal
Non Uniform Pupils Support Book Fund
Non Uniform Day for Education Staff
Warwickshire Teachers on a TIPD Visit - Come and explore the sites and sounds of Africa!