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By Alexandra Gallucci
Social media:
Please feel free to follow this charity on Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn. They post information about all their events and opportunities to get involved.
Charity Statement:
“Our mission is to establish literate communities in developing countries by putting books in the hands and minds of children.”
(From The Literate Earth Project website)
About:
The Literate Earth Project UK grew out of the American-based charity. Comprising student volunteers from a range of universities, they seek to raise awareness about the charity as well as raise money to get books to children in Uganda.
Origins:
After visiting Uganda, the founders saw that a number of schools had a shortage or no books. Ever since The Literate Earth Project has been raising money to get books to children in Uganda. Since 2013, they have built and opened 16 libraries, gotten over 57,000 books to children, and reached over 8,000 students.
Projects:
They often collaborate with other organisations when creating projects to improve children’s access to education. For example, working with Raspberry Pi’ they were able to bring tablets to the libraries in Uganda.
As many as 600,000 refugees have no access to school in Uganda. By partnering with Pangea Books, they created ‘mobile libraries’ which deliver books to children living in the most remote and difficult situations, including the Imvepi refugee camp.
What makes The Literate Earth Project truly wonderful is its desire to work with the community. Indeed, in November 2020 both branches of the charity held a two-day fundraiser. When Ggangu Heritage Primary School had been closed for six months, due to the pandemic, children like Jane and her friends (pictured below) had no access to books. The local community wanted to build a library to rectify this problem. After raising 32% of the needed funds, the charity took up the case and raised the remaining 68% in a Facebook fundraiser.
What The Literate Earth Project UK is doing:
Despite only registering as a charity in 2020, and the difficulties of fundraising during a pandemic, the student ambassadors have created several amazing events.
One ambassador, from Durham University, used her love of running and created a sponsored run of 775 km to represent the 775 million people who are illiterate in the world. Another collaborated with a small, jewellery business, which generously donated some beautiful pieces, to create a Christmas fundraiser. Another group of ambassadors, from York University, had the brilliant idea of creating a DEPOP page, selling second-hand items, with the profit going to the charity.
Currently, an ambassador is holding an ongoing sponsored cycle of 10,000 km (the equivalent of cycling to Uganda). To get involved or to donate, find them and the details on social media.
How you can get involved:
Follow us on social media and look out for events that you can support!
What’s coming up?
We are in the middle of our month-long World Book Day campaign. We are spreading the word about The Literate Earth Project UK by hosting writing competitions in primary schools around the UK. From 23rd February, in the lead up to World Book Day, ambassadors shall also be posting daily blogs on their website, describing what motivates them. They are also hosting social media fundraisers at the beginning of March, including a ‘recommend 5 (books), nominate 5 (friends), donate 5 (pounds)’ and a virtual quiz!
Become a student ambassador
There are universities throughout the UK that have no ambassador for The Literate Earth Project UK. If you are passionate about helping others and want to get involved, get in contact with The Literate Earth Project’s UK development officer (at ukdevelopment@theliterateearthproject.org) to see if your university needs an ambassador and to find out more information.
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