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Great things take time to achieve, but anything is possible if you devote your time and energy to gain knowledge, seek truth and stand up for what you believe. Your mind is your greatest weapon, expose it to the perspectives and realities of others. Learn by doing and never stop until you’ve passed on your knowledge and experiences to the next generation.
Watch - Books2Africa's journey to 1 million books
“New data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics show that 617 million children and adolescents worldwide are not achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics. Sub-Saharan Africa has the single largest number – 202 million – of children and adolescents who are not learning. Across the region, nearly nine out of ten kids between the ages of about 6 and 14 are not gaining minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics.” ¹
¹ UNESCO
Also see WORLD BANK
Every year more than 13 million books are sent to landfill in the UK.² At least, another 26 million books (26,000 tonnes) are recycled.³
² CODEP
³ Also see WORLD OF BOOKS
Our mission is to improve the quality of education in Africa through the provision of books and educational resources that enable students to acquire knowledge and achieve their full potential in a globalized world. We fulfil our mission with the generous support of donors, volunteers, sponsors and partners.
Books2Africa is a UK charity that collects and sends donated books to increase the quality of education in Africa by helping individuals and communities to access, read, and understand books, and to extend the life and impact of books by decreasing book waste and increasing book 'readcycling'.
Our 80/20 fundraising model means we cover our overheads by trading up to 20% of donated books and resources via our charity shop.
Thanks to individual and corporate sponsors, 80% of donated books and resources are shipped to people across Africa at an average of 50p per book.
Our Integrated Web App and Database tracks donated books from the donor to the receiver, with impact photos and reports published on our website.
Books2Africa is a UK Registered Charity (1152599) that is committed to reducing environmental waste in the UK and improving the quality of education in Africa through the collection and distribution of books. Founded in 2012 by four African students during their time studying in the UK, the organisation now has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Can you join hands with us via a commitment to donate books, funds or both on a monthly or yearly basis to enable us deliver 1 million books every year?
The board of trustees consist of founding and honorary members. The four founding directors are members of the same family, and founded the charity during their time studying as international students at universities in the UK. The founding directors together with appointed honorary trustees ensure the charity is governed and achieving its aims and objectives while staying true to the vision of the founders. All trustees carry out extensive work for the charity and contribute to its development.
Our team members are happy to attend and speak at your event to support Books2Africa. Please complete the online form to request a speaker.
Our enthusiastic team of change makers are at the heart of the charity’s UK processing centre, supporting key aspects of our operations.
Charlie Welch
Logistics Supervisor
Rachel Allen
Sales Supervisor
Brenda Read
Rare Books Supervisor
Pedro Ferreira
Refurbishing Supervisor
Augustina Osue
Admin Supervisor
We have volunteering opportunities for people currently in the UK and those who would like to come here on a Tier 5 charity worker visa for our International Volunteering Programme.
Amazing individuals who inspire us and use their experience, skills and influence to promote our cause to a wider audience in order to increase our impact.
Melissa Myambo
Zimbabwean author, scholar and Caine Prize nominee
Catherine Inglehearn
HM Ambassador to the Republic of Niger
Aarush Lala
Read 100 books in a year to raise money for Books2Africa
Sérgio Fernandes
Supply Chain Development Manager with over 20 years' experience in book publishing
Gemma Sherrington
Fundraising Board Director specialising in Fundraising and Marketing at Save The Children UK
Books2Africa is a registered charity (1152599) with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Click the button to view our financials on the Charity Commission’s website.
Books To Africa International is a UK registered charity (1152599)
An organisation in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2017.
Unit 2, Barton Business Park, Canterbury, CT1 3AA.
We do not store credit card details nor do we share financial details with any third parties.
© Books2Africa – All rights reserved
Books2Africa’s UK Processing Centre is still open during the lockdown and we are still accepting donated items and shipping to Africa. You can still donate or request resources as usual. We’ve also launched our Personal Study Kit to help with home schooling across Africa.
Shipping and delivering 1 million books every year
involves the following:
Processing in the UK
Freight from the UK
Clearing and haulage in Africa
Books2Africa is a UK registered charity number 1152599
