2024 has been a truly challenging year for so many around the world, with rising poverty, the impact of climate change and escalating conflict in many places.  

We know that books have the power to help people – offering joy, inspiration and hope. This year, with your support, we were able to send a record 1.3 million brand-new books to 193 partners in 23 countries, ensuring that some of the most marginalised communities were able to access books and read.  

Responding to conflict 

Unfortunately, 2024 was also marked by the devastating impact of conflict, with war escalating in Ukraine, Gaza and, most recently, Lebanon. Millions of people were displaced from their homes, leaving behind their schools or livelihoods. In response, we focused our efforts on reaching those uprooted by these crises, not just in these areas, but also in places like Cameroon, Ethiopia and Somalia where ongoing conflict does not make the headlines. We provided books that offer not only a moment of respite but also a pathway back to learning, education and the hope of a brighter tomorrow. 

In 2024 we sent 438,339 brand-news books to ten fragile and conflict-affected states; of those books 102,893 were donated to organisations who support refugees and/or internally displaced people. In September we sent our second shipment of 27,383 books to our partner PEN Ukraine to support their ‘Unbreakable Libraries’ project which aims to get books to hundreds of libraries which have been impacted by the war.  We are working in Lebanon where we have been sending books to support refugees and internally displaced people affected by the wars in Syria and Gaza, as well as by the recent conflict in Lebanon itself. Our local partners there are doing amazing work on the ground with projects like ‘Children in Crisis’ which was started by the Lebanese Board on Books for Young People (LBBY) where professionals and volunteers hold reading and art sessions with displaced children.   

We also continued to send books to other countries suffering the longer term impact of conflict including Cameroon, South Sudan and Somalia.  

Having books has helped take my pupils out of their troubles and transport them to another world.

Nessrine Kassem in Lebanon

Supporting education  

In 2024 we continued to prioritise supporting partners whose mission is to improve educational provision; in total we donated 363,496 brand-new books to our education partners in Africa and beyond.  Our 2024 project programme also enabled us to set up 222 reading spaces in 192 schools and to train over 380 teachers and librarians to manage libraries and engage pupils in reading activities.   

There were so many uplifting stories in 2024 but the work of two new education partners particularly stood out for me.  Firstly, we supported the PEN Gambia Centre which works with 28 schools in the Gambia by supplying books and creating book displays. They have also set up and manage the PEN Gambia Schools Clubs, engaging members in reading after school with teacher support. 

Secondly, we started working with The Book Bus, a charity tackling poverty in Zambia by inspiring children to become confident readers for life. They currently have three mobile libraries, run by local volunteer reading mentors, bringing books and offering reading sessions with children in schools and communities. These are just two of the amazing partnerships that we foster every year. 

Celebrating 70 years of Book Aid International  

2024 saw a key milestone for us as we celebrated 70 years of Book Aid International.  In the last seven decades we have sent over 37 million books to countries across the world and we celebrated with a special reception, hosted by our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, at St James’s Palace.  Her Majesty, who champions a love of reading for all, has visited a number of Book Aid International projects where she has seen our work first hand, including Kigali Public Library in Rwanda and Eastlands Library in Kenya.  

I have visited quite a lot of countries on my travels and I have been to libraries which have been recipients of Book Aid International, and I have just seen the joy on the children’s faces when they receive these books.

Her Majesty the Queen

Looking forward  

 As 2024 draws to a close and we reflect on the year’s successes and challenges, I find myself humbled by the support we have received this year, as in the past, from all our supporters who stand by us and remain committed to helping us send books where they are needed most. 

I hope that as you look to the New Year, you keep us in your thoughts and join us in our mission to create a world where everyone has the chance to read.  Remember: it only costs £2 to send a brand-new book.