READ International is a UK registered and student volunteer-led charity charity that has sent over 1.3 million books to East Africa and renovated 40 libraries since its founding in 2006. These vital educational resources have been distributed into thousands of schools and libraries across Tanzania by UK based student volunteers; providing help for schools to deliver their education programmes and really supporting access to education.
On 10 January 2013, READ International launched its first ever Tanzanian Volunteer Programme in five locations in Tanzania. This is the first time that READ has run a volunteer programme for Tanzanian volunteers. Twenty volunteers travelled to Mtwara, Lindi, Morogoro, Pwani and Dar-es-Salaam to help set up or improve a secondary school library. The aim of the project was to
· To provide an attractive space that improves and supports access to books (textbooks, fiction and non-fiction)
· To construct an environment where reading for pleasure is encouraged
· To create an environment that is conducive to study and with easy-to-access resources
Mama Sitta, Former Tanzanian Minister of Education said:“These resources are extremely valuable to our schools; providing this kind of educational support is one of the best ways to alleviate poverty in Africa”
As part of the renovation project, the volunteers would have been
· Making minor repairs to the building
· Repainting the walls and furniture
· Installing new furniture (where necessary)
· Purchasing books published locally in both Kiswahili and English
· Setting up a referencing system where one didn’t exist before
· Recruiting and training volunteers from the school to become prefects
Montse Pejuan, Country Director of READ International said:“It is truly exciting to be able to offer this opportunity to young Tanzanians. Based on how the training went, I have absolute confidence that they will produce 5 welcoming rooms for over 3200 students”.
In Pwani region: Kisarawe Lutheran Seminary
One of the 5 libraries was funded by the Rotary Club Bahari. Other corporate partners that have supported library renovations include International School of Tanganyika, BG Group and National Bank of Commerce.
Since registering as a charity READ International has had its work recognised in a number of ways. The charity was winner of 'Best New Charity' in the Charity Times Awards 2007, ‘Best International Aid and Development Charity’ in the Charity Awards 2010 and ‘Best Corporate Partnership’ in the Institute of Fundraising Awards 2010.
READ International is dedicated to empowering young people to become active global citizens and this first Tanzanian led project helped provide a platform to enhance the volunteers’ leadership potential as well as achieve growth, both personally and in their wider social environment.
To find out more visit: www.readinternational.org.uk.