Co-Chairs’ message
One highlight of our Fiscal Year 2017 was the completion of a successful donation to the land locked country of Mongolia. This donation was in doubt from the beginning for two reasons: the difficulties involved in transporting the container of books through the Chinese port of Tianjin and then overland across China by rail to reach the final port of entry in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; and, during the time the donation was being prepared for shipment, a new President of Mongolia was elected along with all the inherent changes of government officials.
However, thanks to the dedication, perseverance, and terrific organization of the Shipment Sponsors, Ganzul Erdenebal and Batzul Dashdorj, the books did reach their recipients. This is all documented with photos and videos of the arrival of books and recipients.
For the coming fiscal year, we are busy working on our next shipments to Cameroon (2), Sierra Leone, Senegal, and possibly Cambodia.
Finally, in keeping with our commitment of equal opportunity of literacy for girls as well as for boys, the Book Project has recently revised its policy of Sponsor requisites to reflect this. Sponsors are now required to report the percentage of girls and boys benefiting from our donations when submitting their Book Request Form.
Laura Byerlee and Agnes Nuval
Co-Chairs, Book Project
This Year with the support of The World Bank and the Volunteers at The WBFN Book Project our organization has donated nearly 100,000 books in large shipments: 17,000 books to Mongolia, 30,000 books to Ghana, 17,000 books to India, and 30,000 books to Nigeria. We have made small shipments to Bolivia, Haiti, Ghana and Cape Verde, a total of 108 boxes (approximately 6000 books). These donations were sponsored by NGOs and individuals committed to literacy. Where possible, we coordinate with established in-country partners to facilitate port clearances, storage, and distribution i.e. Fisiy Foundation and Ratnanidhi Charitable Trust.
- A total of 4,800 hours donated by active volunteers (with an average of 5-10 volunteers/per day) over 9 months.
- Recruitment of volunteers for the Book Project is coordinated through WBFN and includes spouses, children (minimum 16+ years of age) and relatives of World Bank staff members. Additionally, a number of volunteers are retired staff from the World Bank.
Primary Sources
Four (4) surrounding metropolitan public school districts:
- Maryland: Montgomery County, St. Mary’s County, Charles County
- Virginia: Fairfax County
- Private Schools: Washington International School, Little Flower School, Norwood, Linton Hall School, Landon School, St. Stephens School, St. Patrick’s School, Sidwell Friends School and United Nations International School (NYC)
Secondary Sources
- Private donations from individuals
- Bank Staff member donations
Logistical support for warehousing, transporting and shipping books is provided by the World Bank’s General Services Department (GSD). Among its responsibilities, GSD arranges for the transfer of books from warehouse facilities to the packing room (JB3-105) of the Book Project. Once a shipment has been packed, they oversee the transfer of one or more containers from our packing room to the recipient country, including shrink wrapping pallets of books, obtaining the relevant documentation for shipments and otherwise ensuring the smooth delivery of all books from the relevant ports of departure to ports of entry.
Twice each year, the Book Project organizes a book fair where we offer for purchase used books in the areas of fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, arts and crafts, history, biographies, memoirs and others. Proceeds raised from these book fairs are used by the Book Project to purchase new reference books which we include in our shipments of books to schools. Typically, these used books come to us from private, individual donations and because they are not textbooks or are otherwise not appropriate for sending to schools, we set them aside for the Book Fairs. This year, the Book Project held two book fairs, one in May and the second one in December. The fairs were held in our usual venue in the MC-C1 Corridor of the World Bank. WBFN provided promotional assistance in helping to get the word out through social media and from the WBFN website.
Our Donors
The Book Project could not operate without the continued generosity of our many donors from public and private schools in Maryland, Virginia and DC and, of course, the many private individuals who donate books.
We are also grateful for the financial donations we receive from private individuals and members of the World Bank staff who support our mission.
Operational Support
We are grateful for the kind and generous support we continue to receive from the World Bank family Network (WBFN) and the many individuals of the World Bank’s General Services Department (GSD), who provide valuable logistical support for all of our book shipments.
Our Volunteers
Finally, a huge thank you to our wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who work long hours sorting, stamping, packing and labeling books for shipment and also providing assistance in organizing and setting up our books fairs.