By Sandra Vaughan, Grand Circle Foundation Project Manager, East Africa
Recently, we partnered with Libraries for Kids International and Books for Africa to fund the shipment of a 40-foot container of books from the U.S. to the heart of Maasai land in Amboseli, Kenya. Many of our Overseas Adventure Travelers visit one of the four schools supported by the Grand Circle Foundation, and their generosity has been instrumental in making this project possible. [Editor’s Note: Libraries for Kids was founded by an O.A.T. traveler who was inspired by his safari in East Africa—you can read his story here.]
So, what does a 40-foot container of books mean? It translates to more than 36,500 books—nearly 10,000 books for each school. This incredible initiative aligns with our goal of ensuring every child receives a book to take home for the holidays. We explained to the families that in their bomas, where many share resources, they could swap books among themselves, enabling them to read not just one, but potentially 30 different books!
This was our starting point: to give every child a book—a gift that keeps on giving. In the new year, we will unpack thousands more books and set up libraries in each school.
As always, projects like this rely on funding and donations. Thank you to everyone who believes that books equal possibilities. They open doors to new worlds and empower education. In Amboseli, your support has given thousands of children the rare chance to own a book and access countless more.
Visit a school supported by Grand Circle Foundation during Kenya & Tanzania: Masai Mara to the Serengeti To learn more about the Foundation or to donate to any of the projects we support, visit www.grandcirclefoundation.org.
