Book Aid International
Encyclopedia
Book Aid International is an NGO that exists to encourage literacy and access to books particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa
and the Middle East
by distributing books to libraries and other locations that increase community access. Book Aid International currently work in 12 countries in sub-Shahran Africa as well as in Palestine and Sri Lanka. Book Aid International was created under the premise that Western nations were in position to help developing countries by donating books, but the organization operates under the philosophy that literacy is best encouraged when donated books are targeted to their readers.
In a recent research paper commissioned by the charity, it was declared that the development of knowledge societies puts those without access to books and literacy at a distinct disadvantage, being unable to interract adequately with society. Thus they work with governments and local librarians to help determine the need for specific subjects and titles. They also provide professional training and mentorship programs to librarians in the region.
Founded in the 1950s, the organization recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since August 2007, it has been directed by Clive Nettleton, who replaced Sara Harrity.
In 2007 the Department for International Development
ended their funding agreement with Book Aid International, requiring them to reduce in staff and countries they work in.
They now rely on publishers for book donations and are entirely funded by voluntary donations for funds.
In January 2008, Book Aid International became an official supporting organisation of HIFA2015 (Healthcare Information For All by 2015)
(sept 8th 2008). The charity plans to raise £5m over 3 years to give more books to African countries.
The campaign is supported by a number of celebrities:
Sebastian Faulks
hosted the launch.
David Cameron
, Boris Johnson
, Dame Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman
have all donated signed books to an auction in aid of the event.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
by distributing books to libraries and other locations that increase community access. Book Aid International currently work in 12 countries in sub-Shahran Africa as well as in Palestine and Sri Lanka. Book Aid International was created under the premise that Western nations were in position to help developing countries by donating books, but the organization operates under the philosophy that literacy is best encouraged when donated books are targeted to their readers.
In a recent research paper commissioned by the charity, it was declared that the development of knowledge societies puts those without access to books and literacy at a distinct disadvantage, being unable to interract adequately with society. Thus they work with governments and local librarians to help determine the need for specific subjects and titles. They also provide professional training and mentorship programs to librarians in the region.
Founded in the 1950s, the organization recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since August 2007, it has been directed by Clive Nettleton, who replaced Sara Harrity.
In 2007 the Department for International Development
Department for International Development
The Department For International Development is a United Kingdom government department with a Cabinet Minister in charge. It was separated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". The current...
ended their funding agreement with Book Aid International, requiring them to reduce in staff and countries they work in.
They now rely on publishers for book donations and are entirely funded by voluntary donations for funds.
In January 2008, Book Aid International became an official supporting organisation of HIFA2015 (Healthcare Information For All by 2015)
HIFA2015 (Healthcare Information For All by 2015)
Healthcare Information For All by 2015 is a global network of health professionals, producers of reference and learning materials, librarians, technologists, researchers, and policymakers...
Major Book Donors
Book Aid International is supported by the following publishers who donate new books to be distributed to the countries that the charity works in.- Bloomsbury publishers
- EarthscanEarthscanEarthscan is an English language publisher of books and journals on climate change, sustainable development and environmental technology for academic, professional and general readers....
- Hachette LivreHachette Livre-France:*Calmann-Lévy*Deux Coqs d'Or*Disney Hachette Edition*EDICEF*Editions 1*Editions du Chêne**E.P.A*Éditions Dunod*Editions Foucher*Editions Stock*Fayard**Editions Mille et Une Nuits**Editions Mazarine**Pauvert*Gautier-Languereau*Grasset...
- Lexis Nexis
- MacmillanMacmillan PublishersMacmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
- New InternationalistNew InternationalistNew Internationalist is a magazine from New Internationalist Publications, a co-operative-run publisher based in Oxford, England. It has editorial and sales offices in Toronto, Canada; Adelaide, Australia; Christchurch, New Zealand; and New York, USA....
- OxfamOxfamOxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
Publishing - Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
- PearsonPearson PLCPearson plc is a global media and education company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is both the largest education company and the largest book publisher in the world, with consumer imprints including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird...
- Random HouseRandom HouseRandom House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
- SAGE PublicationsSAGE PublicationsSAGE is an independent academic publisher of books, journals, and electronic products in the humanities and social sciences and the scientific, technical, and medical fields. SAGE was founded in 1965 by George McCune and Sara Miller McCune. The company is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California,...
- The British Library
- Usborne PublishingUsborne PublishingUsborne Publishing, often called Usborne Books, is a United Kingdom-based publisher of children's literature.Founded by Peter Usborne in 1973, Usborne Publishing uses an in-house team of writers, editors and designers and is translated into over 55 languages...
- Zed Books
Countries where Book Aid International work
The give below countries has Book Aid International offices- CameroonCameroonCameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
- EritreaEritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
- EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
- KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
- MalawiMalawiThe Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
- NamibiaNamibiaNamibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
- PalestinePalestinePalestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
- SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
- Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
- SudanSudanSudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
- TanzaniaTanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
- UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
- ZambiaZambiaZambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
- ZimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
Celebrity Support
In 2008 Book Aid International launched a new strategy, 'Books Change Lives', to coincide with International Literacy DayInternational Literacy Day
September 8 was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO on November 17, 1965. It was first celebrated in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of...
(sept 8th 2008). The charity plans to raise £5m over 3 years to give more books to African countries.
The campaign is supported by a number of celebrities:
Sebastian Faulks
Sebastian Faulks
-Early life:Faulks was born on 20 April 1953 in Donnington, Berkshire to Peter Faulks and Pamela . Edward Faulks, Baron Faulks, is his older brother. He was educated at Elstree School, Reading and went on to Wellington College, Berkshire...
hosted the launch.
David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
, Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, Dame Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman is an English actor and theatre director. He is a renowned stage actor in modern and classical productions and a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company...
have all donated signed books to an auction in aid of the event.