New campaign launched to give 10 million young people across Africa the books they need by 2030
Book Aid International is pleased to announce its new Generation Reader campaign, which will see the charity work with its partners across African to give a generation of African young people access to the brand-new books they need to unlock their potential.
The UN predicts that by 2030 over a third of the world’s under 25 year olds will live in Africa. They have the potential to become doctors, teachers, business leaders, writers and more, but millions of them lack access to books. Without books they’ll find it far more difficult to become confident readers, thrive in education, and school leavers with the confidence and ambition to succeed.
In response Book Aid International is scaling up its work across sub-Saharan Africa to give young people access to books. By 2030, the charity aims to provide 10 million young Africans with access to 1.5 million brand-new books, create 300 new reading spaces where younger readers feel welcome and train 1,500 teachers and librarians to promote reading and guide children and young people so they can discover the power of books.
Book Aid International Ghana Representative Prince Kay-Takrama spoke of the importance of the campaign, saying:
“Here in Ghana, there are so many families struggling just to put food on the table. For them to buy a book is impossible – but it’s these children and young people who need books most. I think that if we were able to give 10 million young people the books that they need we would see change at so many levels. Literacy would improve, which would in turn help break the cycle of poverty. School pass rates would rise, improving employability and income generation. And perhaps most important, young people facing some huge challenges could read about people who have succeeded, and believe that they too can overcome the odds.”
The charity’s Chief Executive Alison Tweed spoke of the charity’s new campaign, saying:
“It is imperative that we equip the next generation of African young people with the books that will help them imagine and deliver solutions to the global challenges we face. These young people are full of ideas and energy, and working with our supporters and our partners, we are determined to give them access to the books they need to unlock their potential and realise their ambitions.”
The charity needs to raise £4 million by 2030 to make Generation Reader a reality and is always seeking more book donors who can provide the books that young people need.
To find out more visit https://bookaid.org/support-us/generation-reader/ or contact Book Aid International Trusts and Corporates Manager, Clair Bradley: 020 7326 5804, clair.bradley@bookaid.org.
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Images
High resolution images and headshots of the people quoted are availabel here: https://bookaid.dash.app/sharing/type/collection/hc5gz-generation-reader-press-release
Further information
Please contact Clair Bradley:
Clair 07877 664809
Clair.bradley@bookaid.org
About Book Aid International
Book Aid International provides over one million new books every year in the places where they will make the biggest difference and sets up libraries, trains people to run them and works with its partners to spark a love of reading.
Together with its 185 partners worldwide, the charity provides books everywhere from refugee camps, prisons and hospitals to remote schools where there has never been a library before.
All of the books the charity provides from the UK are donated by publishers, and Book Aid International receives no government grants or support. To find out more or to help send the next book visit bookaid.org.
Book Aid International is a registered charity in England and Wales. Charity number 313869.