Donated books to help school children in Africa’s Tanzania

By WALLYCE TODD
Staff Writer

There’s an opportunity locally to donate books to a school in Africa.

Books are definitely gifts that keep on giving, whether they are given during the holidays or at any time. A child who can read a book can grow intellectually, be creatively stimulated and even travel to foreign lands via their imaginations, when exposed to the joy of reading.

Yet, children in schools in Africa are often bereft of educational resources because books are just not available to them due to the scarcity of educational resources. A Princeton graduate and a Columbus County man are two people who are trying to create a library for students in the Sakila school, located in the African country of Tanzania.

Lide Paterno is part of a group from “Princeton in Africa,” made up of graduates who pursue fellowships in a foreign country in order to make a positive difference for the area in which they work.

Darryl A. Lewis, of Columbus County is a minister and has caught Paterno’s vision to provide new and used books for the needy Sakila school. Without books and other resources, Lewis says, children in African schools suffer.

“Their quality of education is at a minimum because they are deprived of educational materials. Therefore, they don’t have what they need to pass grade-level testing.”

Lewis continues: “They become discouraged and end up being dropouts. In Africa, their future would be limited to just every day labor (without an education). This means they’re often only able to eke out an existence.”

Lewis and one of his co-workers in South Carolina have teamed up to mail donated books to the Tanzanian school at the beginning of the year. They’re taking care of the financial side of the project, but there’s still a great need for books that can be used by the students at the Sakila school.

“With an education (that includes books), students in Africa have more promise for a progressive, successful future,” Lewis states.

Morris Pridgen, Columbus County Library director, also knows the value of books to an education. He has agreed to allow books for this project to be dropped off at the Carolyn T. High Memorial library, located on Powell Blvd.

Until Dec. 30, people can drop off books at the Whiteville location’s circulation desk. Those who choose to make donations just need to let the librarians know that the books being dropped off are for “Books for Africa” project. Lewis will arrange for pick-up of the donated books twice a week for the remainder of the month.

“We are glad when we are able to support projects that can put books in the hands and hearts of children, wherever they live,” Pridgen says.

Lewis, himself, visited Africa twice when he was in seminary to help with short-term projects in Kenya. He says he knows that not everyone can travel and serve in other countries. But he notes there’s more than one way to make a positive impact around the world.

“If we can’t always go where the specific needs are, we can at least help. In this case, by donating books, it will enhance the quality of education of African students, in Tanzania specifically.

‘Things that may no longer be of value to us here – like a book that we would throw away – can be invaluable to them.” Lewis concludes: “It can enhance their education to have what we would readily dismiss.”

Editor’s Note: For more information, visit the “Princeton in Africa” website: www.princeton.edu/%7Epiaf/about.htm. Darryl Lewis is also willing to arrange alternate pick-up of donated books through Dec. 31. He can be reached at 910-648-2285.