Shipping
The Rotary Club in Seabrook, Texas is running the most wonderful project to address the shortage of books in so many developing countries.
Their project is called Rotary Books for the World
(http://rotarybooksfortheworld.org)
and was founded by PDG Charlie Clemmons and his wife, Barbara.
Since the second book drive, all the books had been shipped to Africa and had been distributed in Africa by the Rotary Books for the World organization.
Millions of used books (including fiction and non-fiction books, though most of them are old school text books that are no longer in use), have been collected by various Rotary Clubs in 16 states across the US and then sent down to the Rotary Books for the World depot in Houston.
The pallets of books are placed in shipping containers that the Second Wind Foundation (the financial arm of the Rotary Books for the World project) has purchased. (http://rotarybooksfortheworld.org/SecondWind.html).
The books are placed at the bottom, and lighter items such as medical supplies, used computers, school desks, and even soccer balls are placed on top of them.
The container is then shipped to South Africa.
One of the distribution points is the Rotary Humanitarian Aid Center in Bedfordview, near Johannesburg. The books are taken there and sorted into categories. Schools, universities, and churches (even prisons) can apply to come and pick out suitable books (there is a process in place to make sure only institutions with a real need for books are allowed).
Some of the books are forwarded to other countries in Africa such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, where the need for books is even bigger than in South Africa. Once the container is empty, windows and doors are cut into it and it is then used as a library or medical clinic in areas in need of such facilities.
Further information about Rotary Books for the World can be found at the following websites:
Lifting literacy levels in South Africa - http://www.rotarybooksfortheworld.org/PDF/Bury_me_in_Books_Article.pdf
Books for the World: Every Donation Counts - http://www.clubrunner.ca/dprg/dxjournals/_journal.aspx?did=5910&jid=7737
PDG Charlie Clemmons and his wife, Barbara agreed that the Books2Africa shipments can be included in their containers bound for South Africa.
The dedication of Rotary Club members to distribute millions of books to people in need is truly inspiring.
