Commentary; Posted: 9/14/05
Book drive in need of financial help
Gena Doyscher
Guest Columnist
Think about the number of books an average American has encountered in their life. We get them as birthday and holiday presents, we read and study them in school thanks to the taxpayers and in college or university we pay a lot of money for them and think we will read them again.
Usually those textbooks are saved in an attic or basement and years later end up in the dumpster.
In Tanzania there are many children who have never owned a book or have not even held a book in their hands. They hardly ever have the opportunity to use a text book in school and then take it home to study. However, their eagerness to learn and get an education is remarkable.
Several months ago two young women who were seniors in high school at the time, raised enough money to ship a sea container of books to children in the Iringa area of Tanzania. This is an area where resources are frequently scarce. Many funds and projects are directed to the Arusha area of Tanzania where there are more tourists who see the needs and then generously respond.
The young women, Kara Apland from North Oaks and Courtney Smith from White Bear Lake, were able to leave for their freshman year of college knowing they had helped put textbooks and story books in the hands of many school children.
Courtney and Kara contacted ìBooks for Africaî to collect, sort, and ship approximately 25,000 volumes of books to the Iringa area.
ìBooks for Africaî was founded 17 years ago by Thomas Warth, a resident of Washington County. Tomís goal at that time was to ìEnd the book famine in Africa.î It remains the mission of the organization and to date over 11 million volumes have been distributed to almost 20 countries on the continent of Africa.
Faith Lutheran in Forest Lake has a strong connection to the Iringa, Tanzania area because it is the area where its Companion Congregation, Kidigabaga Lutheran, is located. Pastor Don and Eunice Fultz who formerly served at Faith in Forest Lake, coordinate the Companion Congregation Program.
They and their colleague, Dennis Ngede (who many in Forest Lake knew as a Tanzanian student in our high school), will make sure that the books are distributed throughout the Iringa Diocese thereby benefiting hundreds of children.
Can you help?
When a 25 foot container is shipped to Africa, it can be leased and returned to the United States or the container can be purchased and left in the country that received the books. These containers are very valuable to the local people. They are often framed in with homemade bricks with the door of the container left exposed. They make very good, water tight, buildings that can be used as a library or storage unit.
In order to purchase the 25 foot container the cost is $1200. ìBooks for Africaî has agreed to provide the shipping of the books and the container at cost because of the unique nature in which the funds were raised.
Usually organizations such as Rotary Clubs raise the funds. This time two high school women solicited the funds, a remarkable feat. However, all funds they raised were needed to purchase and ship the books. Funds are still needed to purchase the steel sea container to serve as a secure storage unit.
The community of Faith has been responsive to the needs of the students by contributing some funds to purchase the container. However, $400 is still needed.
Donations in any amount would be very much appreciated and can be sent to Faith Lutheran Church, 886 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025 (651-464-3323). Please note on a check or cash donation that the money is designated for ìPurchasing Storage Container.î The contribution is tax deductible.
Not only will you help a child get an education, you will bring a smile to the face of that child who will be thrilled to hold and study the textbook and hopefully continue his or her education. Asante Sana! (Thank You!)
Writer Gena Doyscher lives in Forest Lake and is a member of Faith Lutheran.
Forest Lake Times
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