The Gift of Literacy

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Books for Development’s headquarters with the UCAN team. Immediately upon our arrival, Mark, the founder of Books for Development greeted us. We had almost 600 books to unload, and he and the volunteers were so kind to help us.

We were gladly welcomed into the warehouse and stepped into Marks’s office to gather a better understanding of how Books for Development came to be. During his first visit to Africa, he had the chance to converse with 20 villages, and every village had expressed a shortage of books. This urgency later became the motivating factor for Mark. Originally, he planned to fundraise money and purchase books to ship to the villagers. However, upon more research, he noticed a huge book surplus within our community. Instead of sending the millions of used books into landfills, he wanted to benefit the aspiring children who lack the resources to better their potential. Now they rely on book donations and volunteers to collect, organize, and pack books to send off to developing nations such as Uganda, Zambia, and Belize.

In his office, he showed us several of their initiatives, including pictures of their libraries. In collaboration with the villagers, they constructed metal shelves so that they would uphold the test of time; each shelf was fully stocked with all kinds of books, from paperback to hardback books. For people in refugee camps where space is limited, they ship over metal boxes containing “satchel books'', or thin and lightweight books, allowing them to pack around 200-300 books that will circulate around the camps. Besides an international effort, they also donate books to local jails such as the Harris County Jail, where inmates may learn how to read or continue to enjoy reading. Finally, Books for Development trains librarians by creating interactive Dewey Decimal systems for practice.

Then, we stepped out into the warehouse. Boxes of books pile high and spread far and wide, creating a wonderful spectacle. Around 10 volunteers worked with glee, welcoming new donations, sorting books, and preparing them for shipment. Large flags wave above, each representing a country in which Books for Development has impacted. In the center of the warehouse, two long lines of baskets lay, each with labels such as “philosophy”, “young adult novels”, and more. Also, they sort books by their level with a color system, which allows children to measure their literacy progress. In the back of the warehouse, huge shipments of books tower, ready to find new homes and organized by country.

Every single donation goes towards dedicated children who want nothing more than to cherish the significance of reading. Helping these children does not have to be a difficult task, and change can start with you. Even donating a few books that you have lying around your home helps end the low literacy rates around the world. And who knows, maybe one of your books may inspire a child to pursue a certain career or even discover a new talent to share with the world.

Check out Books for Development’s website for more information and follow UCAN’s Instagram to stay updated on our journey to bolster education and literacy!

Stay inspired,

Emily Zhou