Books for Kids

Earlier this year, I posted that I was trying to write a grant to receive books for an orphanage located near my house in Xai Xai. I’m pleased to say that I finished and submitted the grant and the fundraiser is now online where YOU can go and make a contribution to this cause. Ok so here’s a quick description of the project…

There’s an organization called “Books for Kids”. They are able to deliver educational children’s books written in Portuguese (the national language in Mozambique) along with a shelving unit and then they send someone to facilitate a local training to teach local counterparts librarian skills and how to facilitate group reading with children. The only thing they lack is FUNDING. So, as a PCV I had the opportunity to write a Peace Corps Partnership Program grant. Once approved, a fundraiser is set up online through the Peace Corps website (link posted below). Once you click on the link there you will find a more detailed description of this project.
I wrote a grant to implement this project at the provincial orphanage of Gaza, located here in Xai Xai not too far from my house. Here are some frequently asked questions I’ve been receiving:

1. What are the books about that the orphanage will be receiving?

-There are 200 children’s books to be delivered. The books are simple children’s books, picture books, and some have health related material. Unfortunately, I don’t have a list of the books that will be sent, but from my understanding, the books are wholesome and some teach the importance of a healthy lifestyle, respecting others, etc.

2. Are any of the books religious?

-No.

3. What is the community contribution part of the project?

-The orphanage’s contribution is the actual sustainability of the project.

4. How is it that there are only fifty orphans at an orphanage for a whole province?

-In Mozambique, children whose parents have died may not be considered orphans as long as they have other family members to take care of them. The provincial orphanage of Gaza “only” has fifty orphans because they really have no one else to care for them and they were brought here.

5. How can you tell how much money has been raised so far?

-The initial project cost was $3,093. When you click on the link and see the option of where to donate money, it will tell you how much money is currently needed. You can subtract that from the initial cost.
Next week I’ll try to post some pictures of the orphanage. Thank you all ahead of time for any contribution.

Click here to go and make a contribution to my project:

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.donatenow&keyword=mozambique