Over the course of my work for Book Aid International, I have seen so many grassroots groups who have extraordinary ideas that could create the opportunity for reading and learning to flourish where there is no public library – but they struggle to access the funds and resources they need.  

Our Community Reading Awards were designed to address this issue by providing grants of £1,700 to community actors who work alongside our existing partners. The funds are used to organise volunteer training workshops on book management and reading promotion, refurbish spaces, build book lending systems, monitor projects and purchase nationally published books to complement UK donated books.

In short, the Community Reading Awards facilitate the innovation and determination of our partners to create and multiply reading opportunities – seeking out community members who cannot reach a formal public or community library.  They make a real and lasting difference, and I am delighted to announce 2025’s winners: 

“Books for Rural Minds” / Charity for Community Development (Cameroon)  

Project purpose: Establish a library hub in the rural South West region of Cameroon to revive a culture of reading and prove students, teachers, farmers, NGOs and community members with a new community resource.  

“Community Reading Clubs for Literacy & Learning” / Rwanda Community Library Forum (Rwanda) 

Project purpose: Create new reading clubs with guided storytelling, peer reading and interactive literacy activities in five public schools in Gasabo district, Kigali, Rwanda. 

“Education for Footballers”/ Nania Soccer Academy (Ghana) 

Project purpose: Create a reading programme to improve reading skills and the standard of education to young footballers at the Nania Soccer Academy to equip the next generation of professional footballers in essential life skills. 

“Engqameni Community Reading Hub” (Zimabbwe)  

Project purpose: Open a mini library at the Engqameni Youth Reflect Centre to provide access to books that will support the centres aim to equip and uplift the youth with skills, learning and education opportunities. 

“Floating Library for Mvunguti” / Mvunguti Community Group (Malawi)  

Project purpose: Establish an outreach programme to deliver reading materials by boat to Mvunguti – a remote mountainous shoreline community in Monkey Bay, Mangochi. 

“Imagination Oasis”/ Zambia Library Service (Zambia) 

Project purpose: Open new library and interactive space at the Children’s Cancer Hospital in Lusaka and bring distraction, comfort, joy and continued learning to children as they await or recover from treatment at the hospital.  

“Kieni Children’s Reading Initiative for Special Needs & Vulnerable Children” / Munyu Community Library (Kenya)  

Project purpose: Set up a new ‘book box’ outreach programme from the local public library to the children’s home in Nyeri County to facilitate the borrowing of books to the children who have a range of different needs and abilities. 

“Nkomwa Reading Hub” / Nkomwa Foundation Trust  (Zimbabwe)   

Project purpose: To create a library at the Nkomwa Foundation for persons with disabilities.   

“Read to Rise” /  Debre-Birehan Community Association (Ethiopia) 

Project purpose: Expand and revive the Debre-Birehan Secondary school library to become a resource for the whole community.  

“Prison Mini Library” Zanzibar Prison Department (Tanzania)  

Project purpose: Develop a mini library inside Kiinua Mguu prison in Zanzibar, Tanzania where inmates can engage with educational and leisure reading materials for their continued learning, personal growth and rehabilitation. 

“Prison Juvenile Reading & Writing Club” / Liberia Association of Writers (Liberia) 

Project Purpose: Establish a structured literacy programme for juvenile inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison – enabling them to improve their reading, writing and critical thinking skills and aiding their rehabilitation.  

“Revitalising Reading in Bamenda”/  Bright World Cameroon (Cameroon)  

Project Purpose: Open mini reading spaces in Nkwen, Bambili and Makon communities to support social cohesion and educational activities amongst faith based and school communities in Northwest region of Cameroon. 

“Turning Pages – Changing Lives”/ NAROK LITERACY NETWORK (Kenya)  

Project purpose: Establish community reading clubs and mobile reading activities to facilitate access to books by Maasai boys and girls who are vulnerable to dropping out of school in favour of herding activities.    

“Women & Girls Education”/ Teenseed CBO (Kenya) 

Project purpose: Create a mini library for girls experiencing gender-based violence to safely access books to support their learning and strengthening their reading culture.  

We look forward to hearing about the impact that these excellent projects will have.