In this blog post, I’d like to tell you about an exciting, upcoming trip rather than one we already took as we normally do. Several years ago, Kees and I traveled to Zambia and volunteer with The Book Bus, a British not-for-profit organization that brings books to children across Zambia.

We travelled in this converted safari vehicle which held hundreds of books and served as a travelling library.

Since 2008, The Book Bus has worked to improve literacy in by providing books, storytelling materials and libraries for children and teachers. As a result, some 100,000 children can now experience the joy of reading. We loved our volunteer experience.

When we needed butterfly colouring pictures, Kees ended up tracing 100 butterfly shapes. There was no photocopier that we take for granted in Canada.

Then, a few months ago, I read a wonderful book by a Canadian woman: The Library Tree by Deborah Cowley is the true story of ‘How a Canadian woman brought the joy of reading to a generation of African children’. Kathy Knowles spent her entire life building libraries in Ghana in a very thorough, sustainable manner. The book was fascinating and mentioned how Kathy started her book collecting and sharing in Ghana when she was a young woman and now takes her grandchildren from Canada to volunteer with her library projects in Ghana.

That turned on a light bulb in my head! “What if I could take our grandsons to volunteer with The Book Bus in Zambia?” That would a) show them firsthand the impact of volunteer work, b) the importance of reading and education to children elsewhere in the world, and c) expose them to a unique and fascinating part of the world.

Of course, cost was a major consideration. After obtaining permission from their parents and taking a close look at our savings, we bit the bullet and decided to do it. The way The Book Bus operates has changed since we last worked there. But the staff in London was enthusiastic about us coming and helping for two weeks during a summer program in Kitwe in northern Zambia.

The Book Bus was the brainchild of Tom Maschler. Tom was a publisher for most of his life, working with many Nobel Prize winning writers, and it was he who originated the world famous Booker Prize.

Tom’s inspiration to start the Book Bus came after a trip to Zambia where he saw that literacy was one of the key life skills that can take a child from poverty to prosperity.

With a love and fascination for children’s books, Tom published Roald Dahl’s writing and paired him with Quentin Blake, whose illustrations contributed so much to the author’s books and which we all instantly recognize.

This Book Bus is decorated with Quentin Blake’s art.

Sir Quentin Blake is one of Britain’s best loved children’s authors and illustrators. He is also the Patron of The Book Bus and has personally designed the artwork that makes The Book Buses look unique and which delight children in every community they visit.

Sharing my book Emma’s Eggs with children in Zambia.

When we visit Kitwe in August, we will bring our allowed baggage weight in books and games. But since one of my grandsons, 12 year old Aidan, is an avid skate boarder, we will also be bringing several skateboards donated by his sponsor Vault Skateboards. Aidan will be helping kids in Zambia to discover the fun of skate boarding!

In addition, we’d very much like to support The Book Bus in their work of bringing quality books to so many children, with added support to educators. We hope to raise £1,000.- which will allow them to purchase many new books, support local book publishers and sellers, and will include sturdy bookshelves, covers, posters and support materials for teachers.

I have never done this kind of fundraising before but I’d love to show my grandsons what we can do together and bring this special gift from North America to Africa. In order to make it possible, I have set up a Go Fund Me campaign here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-meter-of-books-will-make-miles-of-difference
I’d like to invite you (but by no means feel pressured!!) to participate and help out. I am very touched that several (Canadian) authors have already pledged their support. Please consider helping us to bring this gift of books from our bookloving friends in Canada, the US and anywhere else in the world (we already have donations from as far away as Australia!). Any amount, no matter how small, will help us reach our goal. Keep in mind that the site shows currency in British pounds: for instance £25.- is the same as 40.- CAD; US 32.-; or 30 euros.