You may say that there are bigger problems in the world, and that might be true. However, this plan is very cost effective and quick to implement. Here's why:

• There is no bureaucracy involved and no red tape
• My campaign closes mid-August and I ship the books
• They arrive in Ghana at the end of September or mid October
• By mid to late October the books are in the school and the students have access to them

I hear the school is even planning a big ceremony for the arrival of the books!!

Let's face it, even I love getting a new book now and then, and these kids don't have ANY.

Imagine... if everyone who visits this site pledges just $2 (the cost of a coffee), we will reach our goal!

The Details

My name is Keith and I have been a teacher in Toronto for over 15 years. I have travelled to Ghana, West Africa four times in the past and I've realized that there is something very simple that I can do to help a lot of school children there. I can send them books that Toronto schools no longer use and just throw out! Most schools in Ghana have a very small supply of books, if any at all. Kids spend HOURS a day, copying info that is dictated by the teacher or written on the board, into their "copy books" because there are no textbooks. In the past few months I have collected about 700 books from Toronto schools; the books had been stored away in cupboards for years! All I need is a small amount of money to ship the books and get them to the school that I'm in touch with. This will have an immediate impact on what the kids can learn, how quickly they can learn it, and will also allow some kids to work at home.

How I Will Use the Money

I have enough books to fill three shipping containers (barrels) right now. I can ship each container (by sea) to Ghana for about $175. The shipper I have used in the past is very reliable. The shipping takes about six weeks and when the books arrive in Ghana, I can have them delivered from the coast to my school (Bright Future School) for about $125 per container. The school is located in Keta, in the Volta Region, which is a few hours drive from the warehouse in Accra, where the books will be sent after arriving. (See gallery pic of students w. yellow uniforms to see the school I'm sending to).

My Connection to Ghana

My wife is from Ghana and her father is a retired school teacher in Ghana. She has told me stories about how much time school children spend copying notes off of the board or notes dictated from the teacher. This even happens at some post-secondary institutions, if you can believe it. We are all aware of the difficult circumstances that many African children have to overcome and this is a simple, relatively inexpensive way to really help them to help themselves.