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The majority of books that we seek are textbooks for primary to college level, children’s picture and story books and works of literature and fiction for adults and young adults. These books help support the development of school libraries and children-oriented community libraries. We are looking for books that are in English or Swahili only and that can be used as a supplement to the books that schools already have. This includes math and science books as well as dictionaries and encyclopedias. Below is a general outline of points to consider when making a book donation:
1. Books should be new or, if used, in good condition. Please make sure they are complete and do not have torn, defaced or missing pages.
2. When donating educational materials please ensure:
- Atlases are not more than 5 years old so that they reflect the correct names of countries
- Encyclopedias should be the most current edition and not older than 5-10 years. CD Rom versions are also appropriate.
- Educational textbooks should be current and not older than 10 years especially in the field of medicine, science and humanities.
3. English or Swahili books are preferred, though books on the study of foreign language are also appropriate.
- Global Alliance prefers not to provide history and social studies books from the western perspective that may reflect negative stereotypes of people in developing countries.
- Global Alliance prefers books that are relevant to the African reader – not a book that pertains to a typical western audience such as microwave cookbooks, home decorating books and sport books such as baseball, football and ice hockey.
4. Books on Religion are generally available through the churches that are currently working in Africa and are thus not sought out by Global Alliance.
5. In order to develop reading skills and reading for pleasure we encourage donors to donate fiction for young adults and the early reader, as well as beginning readers with questions to test comprehension.
6. Entire sets of classroom books are also especially helpful so that all the children in the classroom have access to the same books.
7. Global Alliance also seeks donations of DVD’s – especially educational films and documentaries – and certain feature films that would be appropriate for an African audience.
8. To help build up school libraries, Global Alliance also seeks funds for the purchase of English and Swahili language textbooks that directly teach to the government exams in the countries where we work. These books are the classroom issued books with curriculum designed by the national educational system. Also, books authored by African writers in English, Swahili and various tribal languages.
If you or your school would like to arrange a book drive, please contact Linda Stolz at lestolz@yahoo.com or Samantha Dwyer at sdwyer@globalallianceafrica.org.
Click here if you’d like to see our Book wish list for Tanzania
Click here to donate
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