Posted by Natasha Harris, Pacific Senior Director

Since moving out to Los Angeles about a year and a half ago, I've helped out with a few volunteer events from time to time, but really haven't gotten involved with my local community the way that I was involved when I still lived in Philadelphia (let's call it transitional lassitude).  Since returning from Cambodia a couple of weeks ago, I've decided to turn a couple of things around here and really focus in on ways that I can be more effective in my life, and also make my life more impactful on a greater scale.  That said, this week I started taking yoga (some inner focus always helps), began a new class, and yes - signed up for a volunteer tutoring position at a local non-profit organization (orientation is tonight!!).  From now on, I will be tutoring with this organization twice per week, and am really excited about it! 

What I'm further excited about is the timing.  Unbeknownst to me when I signed up - this is actually National Literacy Action Week!  The NLAW celebration began on Monday, and campuses around the country are participating.  Originating with SCALE (Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education) at the University of North Carolina, this week will feature workshops, tutoring and tutor recruitment, storytimes and book distributions, and other literacy awareness activities.  For more information, click here. 

Not that doing good deeds ever goes out of style, but I'm pretty proud of myself for being so with the times for once.  :)  Join me this week (and every week) by getting more involved in your own community - even little things can make a big difference!

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

Tom Konrad, a financial analyst specializing in renewable energy and energy efficiency companies, has a good article over at Grist concerning the Presidential candidates on their policies and talk of environmental policy.  Tom gets somewhat bogged down by his "If I Were President" excerpt, but his grades are interesting and important to anyone who cares for the environment considering the primary policy creator in the USA for the following four years is in question.

Check it out.

Or check out the more aesthetically pleasing and more comprehensive version, spurred on by Tom's ideas.

Posted by Will Eaton, Account Representative



Better World Books is a very interesting company. In my search for a career I came across many job descriptions that offered many things, but the substance that this company brings definitely has made this a great choice.

I truly believe that some companies have good intentions and want to do better for the world around them, but some how they get lost in the hustle and bustle of corporate America. Better World Books, however seems to really stand on their purpose and aims to create a better world for all through helping to fight illiteracy and through cultivating minds. I give Better World Books all the credit in the world and I hope that my presence here will help this company continue to accomplish all of their goals.

Posted by Abby Rae LaCombe, Rocky Mountain Regional Director

I’m excited to say Khaled Hosseini has done it again!  I just finished Hosseini’s second novel (the first being the excellent text-cum-movie: The Kite Runner), A Thousand Splendid Suns and it was awesome!

A Thousand Splendid Suns demonstrates the innate ability of humans to overcome the oppression of social order and war in order to find their own sense of worth and value.  Following the lives of two women who have nothing in common but guilt for their own existences, the book brings to life the plight of women in Afghanistan during the past 40 years.  The story begins in the 1960s and follows two women, Mariam and Laila, through the overthrow of Communism, the constant fighting between warlords, and the institutionalized sexism of the Taliban.

Hosseini has an amazing knack for story telling.  His use of foreshadowing and ability to develop not just believable, but lovable and sometimes equally despicable, characters sets his novels apart from most.  A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of those remarkable stories that encompass true friendship, lost (and found!) love, and the struggles that individuals in war torn countries face.

We in the United States hear frequently of Afghanistan in the news.  We know the realities of Al Qaeda and the Taliban and terrorist training camps, but it is rare that we are exposed to the reality of Afghanistan as a country with a rich history and culture that has been beaten down repeatedly by war and violence. It is rare that we are exposed to the pain that millions have bared, not just since 2001, but for generations. Khaled Hosseini does not just tell us of Afghanistan’s recent history, he shows us how time has impacted the individual lives of its citizens. He turns the anonymous masses we see on the nightly news into souls that we can identify with, giving us a connection for compassion and a greater understanding of the complex political history that has led Afghanistan to the center stage of the 21^st century.

And what’s great is you can support worldwide literacy initiatives by purchasing A Thousand Splendid Suns as well as Hosseini’s first novel, The Kite Runner from www.betterworld.com (click covers)

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

Before I was writing here on the blog and running book drives around the northeast of the US and Canada I was busy being a music major, doing everything from conducting orchestras to playing classical guitar concerts to a regular Wednesday gig at a pub in Ireland.  Even these days I've been known to write the occasional piece for a festival or dance.

Anyway, because of this huge part of my life, I tend to read books that either have to do with music or my other love (modernist literature, particularly turn of the 20th century British lit).

Luckily there has hardly been a better time to be into the former as there are a few great new books for me to suggest that you read (as usual click the cover to check it out at www.BetterWorld.com ):




The one most recently reviewed in the Sunday New York Times Book Review: Grand Obsession.  This text, by Perri Knize describes her search for the perfect piano that takes her on a journey all over geographically and mentally.  It's an entertaining and engaging story that will have you longing to play, be it chopsticks or Chopin.



Not being a piano player didn't take away from my enjoyment of Grand Obsession, but I certainly was more apt to pick up Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music.  I've heard great thing but haven't cracked this one open yet.  I'll review it soon for those of you itching for a book about a classical guitarist who returns after years away from the instrument (tell me almost everyone doesn't regret not continuing their _____ lessons as a kid).



Last is a book I'm just getting through right now called This is Your Brain On Music.  This book approaches music with a far more scientific approach than the previous two.  This book deals with layman's versions of how the brain works in it's approach to listening to, reacting to and generally engaging with music.  Anyone who can understand the haunting quality of a single note or chord or finds themselves playing the same songs over and over needs to check this one out.

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

Check out this interview with Xavier from Brightcove at Sundance.



For more info check out his previous post.

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

I have a friend who is a special collections archivist who found some photos online and thought they would interest me.  In turn, I think they'll interest you, although they will likely sadden you, maybe even enrage you to an extent.



The Detroit Public Schools Book Depository has been destroyed by fires and weather for over 20 years since the city chose to walk away and leave it to ruin.  Everyday here at Better World Books we deal in the business of getting resources to where they belong: to those in need.  Meanwhile, here in our own country, there are pallets full of unopened textbooks from Houghton-Mifflin, piles of unopened workbooks or trees growing in the waste.  How could a local government or a community's leaders decide to let something like this happen?

The blog Sweet Juniper is responsible for this story and these photos, check out the full story there and get a little riled up, it's good for you, and better yet it could be good for your community.

Posted by Natasha Harris, Pacific Senior Director

We've been getting a lot of requests to see photos from our Cambodia trip, so I thought I'd include a few below from our shared repertoire.  Click on the individual link of any picture to make it bigger.


I'd also like to take this opportunity to say that I feel so lucky to be part of such a passionate and amazing team of people.  Spending these weeks together visiting Room to Read projects was as reaffirming and incredible as I could ever imagine.  You're a great and talented bunch and I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to learn from each of you!

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

Many a time we have featured the book throne here at the Better World Books Blog, (Sundance, Cover Exposure, etc...) but who knew that it was art?  Perusing a gallery I found the following piece by David Byrne:

"Better World Books, purveyor of books with a triple bottom line and creators of fine art."  Perhaps the title needs to be shortened, but I like the concept...

Posted by F. Xavier Helgesen, Co-Founder

What a crazy five days it has been! We arrived at the Sundance Film Festival the day before it started on January 16. We'd been asked to take part in The Giving Suite at Sundance Film Festival, which takes the concept of an exclusive celebrity gifting suite and turns it on its head. At this Suite, everyone is welcome, and people buy eco-friendly products (and books!) with 100% of proceeds going to charity.

We're hoping to fund a lot of girls' scholarships through Room to Read's "Room to Grow" program. We set up a mini-bookshop of about 150 carefully selected titles, and of course people could shop BetterWorld.com if they couldn't find something on the shelves.

I'll be posting much more from the festival soon. For now, a few photos:

Some new friends showing off their "Speak softly and carry a bag of books." tote bags from Better World Books.






Well Read indeed! The Book Throne: it's everywhere you want to be.

Posted by: Damara Catlett, Northern Mid-Atlantic Regional Director

It’s been about a week since I and four other Better World Books employees visited Cambodia to see first hand the incredible impact that Room to Read is making in Cambodian schools through their library, computer classroom and Room to Grow Girls' Scholarship progroms.

The most soul stirring part of the trip was our visit to the family of a Room to Grow scholar named Yum Sophally. To reach her home we traveled almost 2 ½ hours each way using 3 modes of transportation. The first hour we traveled by car and to our surprise transferred to a hummer truck in order to traverse the rocky and practically road less terrain. Lastly, a 30 minute boat ride brought us to a small fishing community by the name of Thnot Leam Bot which translates into “broken palms”. This small village is the home of 17 Room to Read scholars.

Prior to Room to Read’s assistance these girls would have had to make the very expensive 2 ½ hour trek each day to and from school. However, thanks to the scholarship program, room and board is provided for the scholars close to the school where they are cared for by their teachers.

We were graciously welcomed into the home of Yum’s mother, In Lavy. In Lavy is a 58 year old widower and 16 year old Yum is her only child. As a testament to this woman’s generosity and warmth she has taken in her orphaned niece and nephew who did their homework in the next room as we spoke. In Lavy described Yum as a quiet, gentle, and studious girl who is incredibly cautious and thoughtful. In Lavy, knows that her investment in her education is crucial to Yum fulfilling her dreams of becoming a teacher or doctor.

Although, mother and daughter only see each three times a year they have fully embraced this opportunity as only 19% of Cambodian girls are enrolled in school at the secondary level. As we closed our interview In Lavy promised that “As long as I’m on the earth I’m committed to helping my daughter continue her education.”

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

It's now over 50 years since Rudolf Flesch released his blockbuster book "Why Johnny Can't Read," questioning some of education's failures in the US, particularly in reference to literacy. Now half a century later, the problem continues, and educators face even more struggles teaching in classrooms that not only face the kind of socioeconomic diversity that have characterized the challenge of public schooling for years, but now a new kind of challenge has taken hold.  Many students, particularly in the Latino community (15% of all non-institutionalized citizens by the March 2006 census), come from backgrounds in which the first language is not English or English is not spoken in the home.

In reference to this demographic, Richard Riley, former Secretary of Education (1993-2001) in the US commented in his March of 2000 speech, "54 percent of all teachers have limited English proficient (LEP) students in their classrooms, yet only one-fifth of teachers feel very prepared to serve them."

In response to this state of affairs, the NCFL, our partner in US literacy, sponsors hundreds of programs all around the US and they have never been more important than today.  You don't have to become a teacher to help the situation, check out the NCFL's website for ideas.  Their latest approach offers "five $600,000 educational grants to benefit hispanic and other immigrant families for literacy efforts."  It's not just Johnny who can't read.

Posted by Jacob Fu, Account Representative

A few of us from the Library Team were recently in Philadelphia for the ALA Mid-Winter Meeting.  We had a great time high-fiving librarians, seeing our current clients, enjoying the ALA sponsored band, and meeting new libraries.


As usual, we had a tasting of the local cuisine.  Christian and I even had a surprising run-in on our hotel elevator with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who was in town promoting his most recent book On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance!


Philadelphia was littered with sculptures throughout the city.  You’re never quite sure what you will run into around the corner.  At the base of one of the buildings, were HUGE board game pieces.


And although I didn’t get a chance to visit the statue, Philadelphia is of course home to the one and only Rocky Balboa.


I look forward to the next conference and seeing everyone again.  Thanks to those who stopped by our booth and I hope you had just as great a time as I did!

Posted by Better World Books

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Christian Blue, Account Representative: I know I'm not the only one to get goosebumps when I hear his voice resonate "I have a dream" It's always been that way, but it was not until I read "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in college that I understood Dr. King's strength of purpose and character.  It's a true testament to why he led the movement he did.   Since any further attempt at describing his impact would surely fall short, I will leave you all with the attached letter (above link). I like to read it every MLK Day and it never fails to inspire.



Damara Catlett, Northern Mid-Atlantic Regional Director: There is so much to love about this picture (below) including the religious diversity in the background, the cultural diversity of the students, the BFA video playing (courtesy of Maura) and of course the posing-love it!

Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director: Martin Luther King did what he did, and was who he was, for scenes like this: that students could sit together, regardless of color, class or creed and be together, to study, to share experiences and to work for a common goal: to help those in need and create a Better World!

Posted by Abby Rae LaCombe, Rocky Mountain Regional Director

Tips to Encourage Your Child to Read from Wendy Mass
More tips for getting kids to read!

Today on The Friday Flyer, Wendy Mass, author of “A Mango-Shaped Space” and “Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life,” has given some tips on providing your children with good books that they’ll enjoy!

1. If you don’t have much time to search, look for books with award stickers on them. Dedicated committees of librarians spend a lot of time selecting the cream of the crop so you don’t have to.

2. Pass along the books that you loved growing up. These are very often still in print, and often with updated covers. This is also a great way to bring you and your young reader closer.

3. Don’t pass over classics like The Cat in the Hat and Charlotte’s Web. Just because you’ve seen them your whole life, doesn’t mean a child has.

4. Describe your young reader’s interests, hobbies, and reading level to a children’s librarian or bookseller, and ask for appropriate recommendations.

I only highlighted 4 of the 8 and it was awfully difficult to choose, so check her recommendations for yourself at the site.

Posted by Natasha Harris, Pacific Senior Director

(The following is a two part post, follow the link below for the rest of part two and part one is the post beneath this one)

I think back on my childhood and on the privileged path I’ve been on since the age of two. I’ve always been a reader – a passion that was heavily supported by my family and my teachers throughout my formative years. In all my life, I’ve never suffered for the lack of a good book to read. I’ve also been given plenty of recognition and offered numerous scholarships to help me achieve my dreams. I grew up in a country where I was taught that if I think big and believe in myself there is no threshold I cannot cross – no barrier to keep me from my dreams. How much of this have I taken for granted? How many classes have I skipped in my life because I had something “better” to do? I look back on myself and my classmates growing up and I realize that all of us – the richest of us, the poorest, the most clever and more challenged – we all approached our education with at least some degree of indifference, at least some of the time. And why not? Education was always a given, at least through high school. I remember whining about going back to school after a long vacation, wishing I could spend my days outside instead of being cooped up in a classroom with all of its rules and expectations. Cambodia put that all in perspective.

Posted by Natasha Harris, Senior West Coast Director

(The following is a two part post, follow the link below for the rest of part one and part two will be the post following this one)

I’m currently sitting in a Los Angeles coffee shop sipping on a rather tasty latte that cost (gulp) a whopping $3.65. That’s some perspective. Just last week I would probably have been sipping an even more delicious cup of Vietnamese coffee (probably at this very moment, as it’s 6pm here, and Vietnam is 15 hours into the future – 9am breakfast) that cost all of $.33 and came from a cup that did not have the Starbucks label on it.

Since back, I’ve sat down several times to put down a few words about my experiences in Southeast Asia for all of you. It’s been difficult to find words to express all that I experienced while there, and several times I’ve put aside my notes for other things, waiting for the words to come to me.

Posted by Sarah Lynne Reul, Senior East Coast Director

Another great update from Martha Schouten at the University of Oran in Algeria, recent recipient of a Better World Books-funded Books for Africa shipment. Check out previous posts here:
-University of Oran Receives BFA Books!,
-Better World Books Funds Shipment to the University of Oran in Algeria,
-University of Oran gets ready for books!,
-University of Oran update)



Dear Pat and Sarah Lynne,

Life goes by slowly here in Algeria and so do our books' preparations. The students worked all Christmas-El Kebir vacation then I went to Spain for a week to see my son and the Algerian librarian went to Paris for a week and now we are finally back to class. Most of 300 boxes have been listed for the rector and are about ready to circulate in the large library in the language department. The rector is determined to protect the books and to keep a diligent watch on them. Students will only be able to consult the titles of the books in order to check out from the large library. For the moment there is not enough security and the students and teachers are little accustomed to any other method.

My English club members are now working on our smaller walk-through library. If this goes well then the larger library will allow walk through too.  We have to make cards for each book we have selected and also put them into the computer. Our collection comes almost last then we will make a donation to the University of Mostaganam about 30 miles East from here along the coast. The teachers have come to see me and are overwhelmed at the variety of the generous gift you have made us. The medical literature has gone to the medical school already to my knowledge and the children's books to another children's library near the main campus of translation and law.

I am sending a few pictures of the library permanent crew and my students. We had a barbecue of merguez (grilled mutton sausage) and all the trimmings the first day we were back in class. We are on campus not too far from the library. I hope you both enjoy them.

Martha Schouten and English students
ELF Es-Senia
Oran Algeria

Posted by Abby Rae LaCombe, Rocky Mountain Regional Director

New numbers have been released by the National Center for Education Statistics!

Between 1993 and 2005, the likelihood that children ages 3-5 and not yet in kindergarten are read to daily by a family member has increased by 7%! That is a rise from 53% to 60%, but unfortunately that still leaves 40% of young children in the United States not being read to daily!

And, remember how the NCFL always says that children who have parents that can read are more likely to read themselves? Well lo and behold, the National Center for Education Statistics report agrees. Notice:



Because my sweet Excel graph is somewhat vague, I will tell you the exact numbers:
-41% of children whose mothers have less than a high school diploma were read to daily.
-55% of children whose mothers have a high school diploma were read to daily.
-60% of children whose mothers had some postsecondary education were read to daily.
-72% of children whose mothers had a bachelor’s degree or more were read to daily.

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate that the little ones in our lives look to us as examples. Whether you’re a parent or an aunt or a cousin or a friend, if you want children to value education, they must see every day that you value education for yourself and them.

YAY LITERACY! There are lots more fun numbers to mull over at the original source.

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

You may know Dave Eggers from his excellent A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, a classic but contemporary Bildungsroman for the Gen-Y-ers.  But did you know that Eggers also founded the 826 Valencia Center?  826 is a wonderful program that I'll go into more in the future, but right now what I want to talk about is his latest book: What is the What?

What is the What? "tells the true story of Valentino Achak Deng, who was part of the group known as the Lost Boys of Sudan. This group of more than 27,000 boys traveled across Southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya in search of refuge during the Second Sudanese Civil War in the 1980s and 1990s. What is the What is the novelized version of Mr. Deng's autobiography."

"One Book, One Philadelphia," a program in its sixth season, "carefully chooses one book each year to dissect and celebrate. The program aims to unify and educate Philadelphians through reading."  What is the What was chosen "...in part because of its relevance to the current situation in Darfur, which mimics the recent war in Sudan. The city hopes that the book's candid representation of violence will resonate with readers and help them to reflect on issues of violence worldwide and within our city. Mr. Eggers praised the "One Book" program, admiring the city's desire to promote reading on such a large scale."

(original story and quotes from The Bulletin, Philly's free newspaper)

Click on the photos for more info on the books and to buy them at BetterWorld.com!

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

Each month, Worldfund profiles a student helped by their program for their "Student of the Month."  In the past we have featured a few of them, but now we will run a small feature each month profiling the lucky student in question.


Smile, Edith!

January 2008's student is 4th grader Edith from Mano Amiga León in Mexico.
Edith also benefits from the support of her seven siblings, many of whom attended Mano Amiga.

Edith’s family has always had financial difficulties, but when her father died of cancer three years ago, the family’s already precarious situation worsened. Since that time, the grief-stricken children and their mother have struggled to survive.

A defining characteristic of Worldfund’s partner schools is the personal attention given to each student and his or her unique and often difficult circumstances. When Edith enrolled at Mano Amiga León, the school immediately provided her with special attention to help her cope with the loss and changes in her life. She and her brother also received scholarships that cover the costs of their books and class materials.

Because of her school, ten-year-old Edith is one of the few fortunate students to have an older sibling in college, and she is now acquiring the emotional and intellectual tools she will need to follow in her brother’s footsteps.

Posted by Deon Smith, Account Representative

Even as one of the newbies here with Better World Books, I realize the impact that our company has on literacy. Within the second week of my position here, a student from UGA (University of Georgia) visited our Alpharetta office to personally thank us for our contribution to Books for Africa.

A week later we received an email from a student in Algeria, expressing his gratitude for our service. The following week, I picked up an issue of Business Week: Small Biz and who’s on the cover? Xavier Helgesen… one of the co-founders of the company (read more in previous entry)! Way to go Xavier! Better World Books is amazing!!

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director

I realize that when I present green homes (or cities in China...) that perhaps I'm shooting high for the average reader.  I just get excited.

Something we all have to contend with, however, if we live outside the public transport savvy cities, as so many do, is that we need a car (I usually ride my bike everywhere, but considering there are 6 inches of snow in Boston right now, you can be assured I'll be borrowing my roommates car for that grocery store trip...).

OK, so you need a car.  Every car dealer out there is telling you that they're green friendly and the numbers of "City MPG" or "Highway MPG" (sidebar: is this known as "Freeway MPG" in California?) are dizzying.  Let "GOOD Magazine" break it down a bit for you, to see which car company talks the talk AND walks the walk in this article.

Also, the future plans for green cars from each company in the graph will warm your heart, and hopefully not completely empty your wallet...

(p.s. If you don't know about GOOD, they give all of your money to non-profits if you subscribe to their magazine.  Check out their info.

Honda's (not yet released) Concept Car, runs on hydrogen
fuel cell, thereby creating 0 emissions! 
[Image courtesy of MSNBC]

If not in the car market, or looking for something a bit different, look into this book at www.BetterWorld.com with some suggestions for making your daily life a little bit greener (and get it shipped carbon neutral, natch):

Posted by Aaron King, Director of Campus Acquisitions.

Our first experience on the streets of Vietnam was a breathtaking one; not in the “oh-wow-this is so amazing and beautiful-I can’t even breathe-I’m so happy” kind of way (which does technically describe their sunrises over the South China Sea), but rather breathtaking in a “hyperventilating, oh-my-god-we-are-all-about-to-die” manner. 

First of all, you need to know that Vietnam is the land of the motorbike.  Motorcycles and riders outnumbered the cars at least twelve to one.  The only cars out there were primarily taxies and delivery trucks.  Now imagine a very fast river, with rapids pounding all over rocks, water cascading everywhere.  Now substitute water and rocks for very large mass of these bikers and cars, and you have this amazing fast paced moving stream of traffic.  Traffic lights were few and far between, and even then only occasionally obeyed.   It was like a huge stampede of wild horses running through the jungle. Really fast. 

Our taxi driver speeds away from the airport at a fairly fast clip, (tough to say, we were too nervous to do the metric conversion).  Upon approaching the intersection of vehicular chaos, our driver did not slow down a bit (as we might have expected), but if anything accelerated, and dove right in.  Amazingly, it was perfect.  Not a single rider was overturned.  It was like the traffic was one single organism, moving as one.  Some motor bikes swerved a bit, some slowed a bit, and our taxi immediately became engulfed as part of the stream, picture perfect osmosis.  We then proceeded to begin passing and merging other vehicles with complete abandon, again with no harm caused.  It was like every single rider was completely aware of his or her surroundings.  We even saw many bikes with families on them, a mother, father and small child all sandwiched on one fast moving bike in the middle of the stream.   At a certain point we had to let go and imagine we were actually watching a high speed chase in a movie, and hope to high heaven there would be no overturned fruit trucks in this scene. 

Upon arriving safely and soundly at our hotel, our driver then had the audacity to demand a big tip on top of his already jacked up price as a reward for how quick he got us there.  Let’s be honest, I gave him 2 dollars, cause I was definitely impressed.

Posted by Erin Fleming, guest blogger.

This is part of a series covering BWB Co-Founder Xavier's recent trip to Africa.

*November 12, 2007

Rain is soaking the red dirt roads and we are exhausted as we head to the fifth and final school of the day, Nomevu High School. We are running late because of a long presentation at Mafunda HS, but the students at Nomevu are waiting for us, even though many have quite a walk home ahead of them. Alone on a grassy hill, this school has just one building. There's only room for the 8th and 9th graders, so they'll have to drop out by 10th grade.

        
         Teachers greet us at Nomevu High School.

Thankfully, ECAG-USA, an non-profit building classrooms in this area and that organized our Africa trip (see their website or read the previous post), has placed this school as #1 on the waiting list for more classrooms, so that the students can graduate.

The process for a school to get new classrooms is that the school's home community puts up a $1000 payment per classroom, and then, through fundraising and donations, ECAG sponsors the additional $11,000. The classrooms have a standard design, so the materials are accountable to the last brick and can house around 50 students comfortably. They are built with electrical wiring, but adding power is an extra for the school to pay. What happens if ECAG doesn't build? That's it; no new classrooms. The kids don't graduate, or in some cases, have no school at all. Many students in this area still learn under a tree, but on a rainy day like this, it's a day off. Cool! say the American kids, but think of how often it can rain in a season here! And, no desks, no library.. hardly a good learning environment.

I have mentioned that all primary students are fed a meal each day at school. What we learned today is that the government doesn't sponsor high school students, so that means these kids at Nomevu had been waiting for us, without eating all day. Our hearts are breaking for these humble, appreciative students. Sorry this post might be a downer, but after we'd fallen in love with so many kids all day it was really hitting us, how hard life can be here. On the way here, on the radio, the newscaster announced that HIV/AIDS is the #1 killer of children in South Africa. How were these kids today so full of life?  I had to wonder if they thought our visit meant that we would be able to solve their problems, or if it was, you know, just a lot of fun.  I certainly had a wonderful day, but still I felt a bit guilty.

  
  The end of a long day, Nomevu HS.

Like at every school, the students had songs and dances ready for us, including  the native costumes for the girls. I don't feel comfortable posting video of the girls to BWB because they are topless, but I did think they were so beautiful. My favorite choral performance of the day, however, was this one:

Let it shine in Zululand video. (youtube)

The teachers provided a snack for us of sandwiches and chicken in the other classroom. Knowing the kids hadn't eaten, and since we'd had snacks all day, nobody made a move for the spread. Some of the ladies in our group whispered we had to take something to not be rude, so begrudgingly, we did. More guilt... Anyway, we unloaded the sandwiches and drinks we had in the vans. With that and all the leftovers from the snack, there was enough for a small meal for each student, and we felt better knowing they had eaten.

What a day! We are overwhelmed but ready to help these students graduate. If you've been following this blog, you remember that at the end of this day, after Nomevu HS, we went to visit the student Nomkhosi's family.



Xavier and Erin, bottom left, and the ECAG and Books for Africa group, enjoy the show.

Posted by Erin Fleming, guest blogger.

This is part of a series covering Xavier's recent trip to Africa.

*November 12, 2007

If you've noticed it's been Nov. 12th for a few posts, you are not crazy and I am not mistaken; as I mentioned earlier, we went to five schools and visited a student's home all in the same day! There is so much to cover that I had to break it up into several posts.

After Thembalisizwe Primary, we headed to Emasundwini Primary school. We're not cruising around a town to get there; we drive on small country roads, through hills dotted with clusters of straw-roofed huts (don't forget the zebras by the roadside). At the school, are six buildings, green and white this time.  This is another Books for Africa school and we visited the new library.

Emasundswini Library.mov (3.38 MB)

Additionally, some of the group, including Xavier, taught the students a small lesson using a world map ("Can you tell me where South Africa is?"). The teachers surprised us with finger sandwiches, which we ate tentatively (would we get sick?). 

[I have to note, looking back, that nobody did get sick from the food. I was expecting to, since my world travel experiences have taught me that when one travels, one spends a day not eating if you know what I mean.]


I think Xavier needed to work off his sandwich, so he challenged some kids to a footrace. Note how he thought the finish line was a bit earlier than the kids.
Xavier races kids 3.mov (2.18 MB)

Next up was Gqokinsimbi High School, a very special one to our leader, Henry Bromelkamp. He has personally sponsored a classroom here through ECAG-USA. He started this organization after visiting the area and learning about the original organization, Eshowe Community Action Group, whose purpose is to build classrooms in the rural area around the town of Eshowe. Henry founded the US arm so that American donors could give money more easily and be able to write off donations at tax-time.  This all begs the question, Why doesn't the South Africa government build classrooms in Zululand? Exactly. The government, possibly via some lingering racist sentiment (this authors opinion), doesn't build here, but if ECAG does, the government will provide teachers and daily meals for primary students. 
About the school name: I think the letter q stands for a click sound. Awesome!

I like this video because it shows that high school kids are truly the same everywhere.
video of Xavier talking to a cute girl at Gqokinsimbi HS. (youtube)

  
   Barb Ryan, Xavier and Henry teach some maps at Mafunda HS.

Later on was Mafunda High School, with slogans "We Live For Tomorrow" and "Conquer the World Through Education" displayed near the entrance. Here again, our group taught classroom lessons, this time using photos of Minnesota (where most of the group hails from), showing seasons and such. Not one student answered affirmatively to the question, "Has anyone seen snow before?" None of us thought a description alone can really convey what snow is like, but the students did enjoy seeing pictures of snowmen and discussing what makes our countries similar and different.
Here again, we were treated to food and drink and a very detailed PowerPoint of the school's goals through 2010.  These included the idea that the "doors would never shut" because the school would create an adult ed. program in the evenings, and sponsor community meeting space.

Here are some guys with beautiful voices and sweet moves. The ululations you hear are typical of how girls sing while guys dance here.
video of boys performing at Mafunda HS. (youtube)

Okay, one more school today... in next blog entry.
            
            Girls perform at Mafunda HS.
                     
                      Teacher at Mafunda HS.

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director


The now oft-photographed co-founder Xavier, caught
in his 5 minutes of sitting down time, on "the throne"

If you happen to be perusing CNET's News Blog today (or if you like following the myriad links that we post), you'll see a reference to a company you may recognize.  Hailed as "Eco-Alternative to Amazon funds literacy programs" Better World Books gets a pat on the back for all the hard work we do (which isn't why we do it, but it feels good sometimes). 

The article begins with a story you may have heard before:

F. Xavier Helgesen had big dreams to build Web sites after graduating from Notre Dame in 2001 with an MIS degree, but then the dot-com industry crashed.

 Instead he co-founded a company in 2002 that sells books otherwise destined for the landfill, sends some of the proceeds to literacy groups, and uses carbon-neutral shipping...

and goes on with the good news of what we're doing and how we're doing it, including our free shipping in the US, our flat rate $2.97 for international orders and how we use not just no-value books but use discarded, once landfill bound library shelving to store the books (680,000 lbs of library shelving, in fact).

Check out the full article.

Posted by Jack Hanlon, Northeast Regional Director


(Things are hoppin at OCC)

Onondaga's Student Newspaper, The Overview, has a blog, which mentions the latest Phi Theta Kappa induction. I'd talk more about it but I'll let the fine writers at OCC do the work:

Alpha Sigma Zeta, OCC’s local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, inducted 85 new members on Oct 23, 2007. In a candlelight ceremony, members were honored for their academic achievements and service to their campus and community.

Kelly Insel, chapter secretary, had the honor of presenting checks to Elmwood Elementary School and Seymour Elementary School to purchase needed books and supplies.

*This money was earned through the Better World Books program in which members collected textbooks that were sent to Africa. For each book accepted into the program, the chapter was reimbursed money to be used in the local community.*

Debra Baehr, Elizabeth Bailey, Elaine Baker, Michael Balintfy, Andrew Borchik, Helene Brophy, Latoya Brown, Brittany Caprilozzi, Sarah Carlson, Karen Carnessali, Christa Carsten, Christina Catalfano, Melissa Ceresko, Jonah Cohen, Mert Coskan, Sean Cummings, David Currier, Amy Dederich, Caleb Defrees, Paul Dooley, Alexander Douglas, Emily Dwyer, Franciscalenae Egbuna, Christopher Ezomo, Justin Fabiny, Christine Finnemore, Megan Forman, Kimberly Germinio, Jacqueline Goletsas, Kevar Griffin, Shelby Hall-Lorenz, Peter Hawley, Machia Haynes, William Heuschneider, Lauren Jemola, Susan Johnson, Swaroop Joseph Varghese, Terea Killings, Jessica Kline, Melissa Krausnick, Craig Laduke, Katie Larock, Crystal Lauzau, Ashley LeClair, Debra Ledford-Prahl, Martha Lortie, Kimberly Lowe, Allison Masella, James McCampbell, Sarah McMichael, Jessica Milton, William Mitrus, Jason Myers, Timothy Olson, Kevin O'Toole, In Gi Park, Peter Paynter, Edward Perry, Nicholas Pikarsky, Kimmy Radell,