The Afrikan Baby Book Project
🌍 Inspire a Brighter Future with Afrikan Baby Books for Afrikan Children: Join Our Virtual Book Drive
In 2020, amidst the challenges of the pandemic, a heartwarming initiative was born – the Afrikan Baby Book Project. Founder Wandi Steward’s encounter with primary school children in Arusha, Tanzania, revealed a startling truth – the lack of Afro-centric books for these young minds. Decommissioned textbooks and worn-out storybooks from the West didn’t reflect the rich tapestry of Afrikan experiences and values.
🌟 Our Impact So Far:
Since then, the Afrikan Baby Book Project, with support from the Whittier Sunrise Rotary Club (California), the Atlanta Airport Rotary Club (Georgia), Omega Psi Phi’s, Omicron Rho Chapter (Michigan), Smoke Rise Elementary School (Georgia), The Gulf Coast Apollo Links (Texas), and Delta Airlines (Georgia), has delivered more than 3,500 Afrikan-inspired books to children in Tanzania and Rwanda. We’ve reached 14 villages, 6 literacy centers, 2 beauty salons, 2 Little Free Libraries, 2 Day Care Centers, and 2 primary schools.
💖 Join the Movement: Sparking Curiosity, Inspiring Confidence
Now, we’re calling on you to take part in our Virtual Book Drive! Imagine the impact we can create together by raising 5000 Afrikan Baby Books. Each book carefully selected to boost a child’s self-esteem, self-determination, and self-reliance.
🌈 Why Your Support Matters:
Container-loads of ancient western books perpetuate the famine of Afrikan-authored books, affecting children’s perceptions of themselves and their world. Your contribution will directly combat this, filling young minds with stories that reflect their culture, resilience, and dreams.
📖 How You Can Make a Difference:
Lead a Virtual Book Drive: Organize a book drive in your school, faith-based group, fraternity/sorority, or civic organization. Be a catalyst for positive change!
OR
Donate Financially: Contribute to the Rotary Club of Whittier Sunrise (DONATE HERE) to defray the costs of transporting and delivering these precious books to eager young readers.
📚 Explore More Initiatives:
As part of our commitment to expanding our impact, we are collaborating with The African Books Collective, Imagine We, Kunda Kids, and Mkuki Na Nyota. We aim to extend our reach to neighboring Uganda and Kenya, further enriching the literary landscape for Afrikan children.
💌 Get in Touch:
For more information and to start your book drive, reach out to Wandi Steward at wandi@worldspacefoundation.org. Your dedication will be a beacon of hope, sustaining literacy and alleviating poverty in East Africa.
🌍 Together, Let’s Elevate Literacy, One Afrikan Baby Book at a Time!
Your monetary donation to support the Afrikan Baby Book Project (to defray the cost of obtaining and transporting the books) may be submitted here:
We invite you to contribute to the long-term development of the Afrikan continent by donating Afrikan Baby Books that will spark curiosity, inspire confidence and creativity, while encouraging compassion and critical thinking.
Since 2020 the Afrikan Baby Book Project has served over 1,200 children, from pre-school to 14 years old at,
- 12 villages
- 4 literacy centers
- 2 beauty salons
- 2 Little Free Libraries
- 2 Day Care Centers
- 1 primary school
In Tanzania and Rwanda.
Book drives led by schools, faith-based organizations, fraternities/sororities and civic organizations have been the backbone of the Afrikan Baby Book Project’s success.
Please contact Wandi Steward at wandi@worldspacefoundation.org to learn how you and your organization may contribute to the Afrikan Baby Book Project to SUSTAINABLY elevate literacy and alleviate poverty in East Africa.
Cultural Literacy Initiative for Arusha (Tanzania) & Kigali (Rwanda) Children
Children without homes are dependent upon donations for their food, clothing and education. Children in Arusha and Rwanda are learning to read English from decommissioned (ancient) library books from the United States and Europe. Unfortunately, learning from these mainstream books is a bit of a disadvantage as they are culturally challenging to connect with. For example, something as simple as, “A is for apple”, is problematic because apples are to East Afrikan children, what cherimoyas or kiwanos are to American children.
In January 2021, Whittier Sunrise Rotary Club Passport Member Wandi Steward has personally transported (courtesy of Delta Airlines) several luggage bags-full of culturally appropriate books to start a library at the Hockey Hearts Children’s Home. The project continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
Additionally, Arusha Clock Tower Rotary Club is planning Watoto Bonanza, their second annual holiday event, on Saturday December 19th bringing together 300 children for competitions, games, prizes, music, dancing, and refreshments! Let’s help the Arusha Clock Tower Rotary Club to put a culturally appropriate book into the hands of each child to enhance their self-confidence, and encourage self-reliance and self-determination.
A donation from the Whittier Sunrise Rotary Club has made it possible to distribute 200 books to the libraries of the children’s centers, by the local Arusha author, Kulthum Maabad, entitled Mashujaa wa Afrika, which translates to Heroes of Afrika as an ideal selection to support their learning.
Please support the Afrikan Baby Book Project