This campaign has now closed
In 2009, we aim to provide at least 44,000 books, at a cost of £2 a book (but worth an estimated £530,000 due to the high value donations we receive from UK publishers) for our partners in Malawi. We respond to partner libraries’ detailed request forms so that the materials they receive are relevant and appropriate to their needs.
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Situation
Book Aid International provides over half a million books and journals each year to partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Almost two-thirds are for children. We aim to improve access to locally published material, support partners to purchase books locally, and support development of school and community libraries. We work to improve the quality of education and encourage girls and women to read. Landlocked Malawi is among the world's poorest countries. Of its 11 million people only 16% live in urban areas, mainly in the cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre and a handful of smaller towns. The recent increase in primary school attendance in Malawi, due to the government’s and international communities’ commitment to achieving universal primary education, has hugely increased the need for primary texts and teacher training material. Book Aid International is committed to helping to solve the chronic shortage of books and resources. In 2009 we aim to provide over 44,000 books, worth an estimated £530,000, to our partners in Malawi. Our main local partner, Malawi National Library Service (MNLS), successfully reaches out to many disadvantaged user groups. These include school libraries, rural areas, women readers and mother and child groups. MNLS is also active in offering HIV/AIDS information and even has a free condom distribution scheme. Books change lives. We need to raise £95,000 to send these books and manage our programme in Malawi in 2009.