British Book Charity Steps Up Support for South Sudan

By Irene Gaitirira
Published June 2, 2017

A British book-donation and library-development charity has dispatched 3470 books to South Sudan that is experiencing socio-political instability, famine and displacement.

Book Aid International, that says it works with libraries, schools, hospitals, Non-Governmental Organisations and other partners to ensure that the books it sends reach those who are most in need, says it is “proud to be reaching out to students facing some of the most challenging circumstances found anywhere in the world today.”

The more than 3000 books destined for University of Juba and Ibba Girls’ School, among others, shall first be shipped to Uganda and then driven overland to South Sudan. Book Aid says it expects the process to take several months.

Few South Sudanese students can afford to buy books and after years of war the country’s information infrastructure is weak.

Book Aid International, that says it “ships around one million books to thousands of libraries in communities where people have very few opportunities to access books”, says the books currently on their way to universities and schools across South Sudan include medical texts, higher education titles, teacher training materials and children’s books and that they “will provide a significant boost for students who have previously been struggling to work with few or even no books.”

“At Book Aid International, we believe that everyone should have access to books that will enrich, improve and change their lives whatever their circumstances,” says Alison Tweed, Chief Executive Officer of Book Aid International, of the donation to South Sudan. “We are committed to reaching out to those who face the greatest barriers to accessing books – such as the students who are beating the odds and completing degrees in South Sudan. We will be working hard to reach out to more conflict-affected communities as we realise our Vision for 2020 and we hope that these books are the first of many that will reach students and school pupils across South Sudan.”