Book Aid International new strategy to focus on access to books in the most marginalised communities

Published: 1 March

Book Aid International today launched its new ‘The power of books: Our vision for 2025’ strategy. The charity’s new strategy focuses on creating the opportunity to read for more people who face the greatest barriers to learning. It responds to the challenges readers face and will define the charity’s direction of travel until 2025.  

Covid 19 has had a devastating impact on education globally. Today, 87% of African primary school pupils are experiencing learning poverty and are at risk of not gaining the literacy and numeracy skills they need to thrive. 88 million people have been pushed into poverty by the pandemic, climate change is impacting communities around the world and conflict and displacement are putting countless livelihoods and lives at risk. 

Books are powerful tools for fighting poverty, improving education, challenging discrimination and building a more equal world. Between now and 2025, Book Aid International will expand its work creating access to books where they are needed most. Focusing on four strategic aims of equity, engagement, partnership and advocacy the charity will forge new partnerships with NGOs throughout and beyond Africa who reach disadvantaged communities – creating new opportunities to reach excluded readers, especially refugees and girls.  

Moving forward, Book Aid International will prioritise support for the world’s poorest countries and grow its work in conflict affected communities. The charity will also increase the number of school libraries it supports and establishes and expand its work providing teacher and librarian training.   

The charity’s new Chair, Dr Alice Prochaska said: “This new strategy is about reaching the communities where books can make the greatest difference. In the places where teachers struggle to encourage children to dream big, where it’s hardest to become a doctor, where there has never been a library before – that’s where we are determined to put the power of books in people’s hands. But we can’t do it alone. I hope that you will join us as we take this next step towards a world where everyone has books.” 

Book Aid International’s Power of books strategy is driven by partnership – with the publishers who donate the books the charity sends, with the charity’s many supporters and friends, and with its inspirational partners around the world. To find out more about the new strategy or get involved visit bookaid.org.  

Ends 

Notes to editor 

Dr Prochaska is available for interview.  

About Book Aid International  

Book Aid International is the UK’s leading international book donation and library development charity. Every year, the charity aims to ship around one million brand new books to thousands of communities around the world where people have very few opportunities to access books and read.  

Book Aid International works with an extensive network of libraries, schools, hospitals, NGOs and other partners to ensure that the books it sends reach as many people as possible. The charity estimates that the books it provides are available to 24 million people every year.   

In addition, Book Aid International runs projects which build the capacity of librarians and teachers to support people and communities. Visit www.bookaid.org for more information or join the conversation on twitter: @book_aid.