After reading this post at F2F, my heart felt sore.
What broke my heart was the fact that without assistance these children could grow up without knowing the joy of reading. They could grow up illiterate. They could grow up without knowing how to read or write, the two most basic of human gifts. And who are we to decide their fate?
Something within the post spoke to me, touched a part of my soul and I would love to be able to help these children have a better and brighter future. With knowledge comes skills, with reading comes writing, with books come friends.
As you know I am an avid reader, as I’m sure most of you who read this blog are probably just the same. I have no idea what it would be like to not be able to read. To not be able to devour knowledge within books and to not be able to journey to the distant lands within books, be they fantasy or reality. To not have those friends within the covers of a book. To me reading is as essential as breathing. So much so, that I have already started teaching my daughter to read (she is 19 months old).
So, my aim is to have a ‘BOOKRAISER’ for Bambelela. To raise at least 100 children’s books ages ranging from between 0 -6yrs. In English, Afrikaans and any other African languages. Picture books/story books and board books to tempt the eyes and minds of the little ones. To give just that extra step for a better future for them. Most of the children at Bambelela are babies and under 6, but even the elder ones do not know how to read. Because of this, we need books which will enable them to learn, and to instill a love of reading and learning. Now, I know it is not food or money or clothes that I am attempting to raise, but for me, books are just as important. And I would love your help in doing this. All you need to do, is pledge a book – one that you own that is no longer as loved at it once was/or a newly bought one/ or a second hand bought one/ or a hand me down , a book is a book is a book!- and then post it to me. Once we have raised 100 books, I will then contact Bambelela to let them know we have managed to raise the 100 books and send them up to them. I will take care of the postage and packaging and ensure that the books arrive in good order. I am aiming to succeed in this venture by mid December so it can be like a Christmas gift for all the little children.
I have not attempted to do any sort of ‘raiser’ before (bar the selling of raffle tickets at school) and if anyone has any suggestions please do not hesitate to tell me, but I have high hopes and a dream of at least 100 books. I have faith in the goodness of us humans, even amidst all the non goodness which is read/felt/seen daily and I believe that this small act of kindness will go a long way.
If you would like to be part of this ‘BOOKRAISER’, please email us your email address by using the ‘submit review button’ at the top of the page, or use the comment section below, with the title of the book that you are pledging so we don’t get duplicates, and I will get back to you with contact details of where to send the books to. If you are planning on buying a book, you can click on the Kalahari link at the bottom of the page, which makes it that one step easier for you!
Lets do this!