George Washington University Students will be conducting a book drive on their campus May 9th through May 16th 2005.
The Student Group, which is called “Books For Africa Student Organization” was organized in October 2002 by students at GWU to send college level books to various African communities for use in community libraries and educational centers. And since their founding, Books For Africa Student Organization has collected and delivered over 35,000 volumes to the Continent.
Not only has Books For Africa Student Organization collected books from George Washington University, they have expanded to the campuses of Georgetown, George Mason, John Hopkins and James Madison Universities as well. A chapter of the organization was even founded on at James Madison University in 2004. And according to their web site, located at:
http://studentorgs.gwu.edu/books4africa/
they hope to create additional chapters in the near future.
This highly organized group holds two book drives each year, one in May and the other in December. They chose these times because that is when students have finished with their books for the semester at their University. The founder of this organization said that prior to their book drives, students would discard their books in the rubbish in order to reduce the weight of the luggage to be shipped home. These hard working students even keep a calendar of their book drives posted on their web site as well as a brief “How To” for campus book drives.
Collecting books is easy compared to getting them shipped to Africa, and Books For Africa Student Organization has partnered with such organizations as the World Bank Book Project, Better World Books, and an NGO in Minnesota called “Books for Africa.” Books For Africa Student Organization provides links to these organizations under its “Partnerships” links at its web site.
You’ve gotta admire young people making a difference. If you want to help, or ask them for help, or just show them some LOVE, go to their web site and click their “Get Involved” or “Feedback” links.
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