Hello Friends and Family, 

As you know, my site is the small rural village of Leokaneng 65 KM outside of Polokwane in Limpopo Province. Leokaneng is like numerous small, rural, impoverished villages in South Africa. It has very little in the form of educational resources. I volunteer at Leokaneng Primary School and have been asked by the principal to help with a library so the learners and community members can have access to reading materials for learning and pleasure. 

Also Legacy Giving After-Care and Mentoring Center, a volunteer organization in Tshaulu Village started by a very motivated South African, helps learners with their homework and other after-school educational activities. It too is in need of books. 

I have not seen a public library anywhere in South Africa and books here are very expensive. It is incredible to see how motivated the learners are to learn and how hungry everyone is for reading materials.  Last week I asked the first grade teacher if she had ever heard of Dr. Seuss and she had not. I showed her a “Green Eggs and Ham” book and she was thrilled and was sure the children would be also. 

Another volunteer discovered an American organization willing to donate 22,000+ library books all over the country to villages deeply interested in establishing libraries. The result is “Books for Peace”, a project that brings together 24 volunteers to create libraries in 30 impoverished communities across South Africa. 

Now we are working to raise the funds needed to ship those books to South Africa to help the people in these communities with their library projects. I could really use your support. I need to raise $333 per library for a total of $666 to pay the shipping costs for 1400 books (700 per library). If 26 people are willing to donate $26 each, I’ll have exceeded my personal goal. But any amount – even $5 – will make a difference and be really appreciated. 

Donations go directly to putting books into the hands of schoolchildren, and they’re even tax-deductible. We can only make this happen with your help! You can donate or learn more on our project website: https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projdetail&projdesc=674-072 

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions and to share this project with your friends and contacts. 

Thank you for your help, 

Joni