- About postgraduate study
- Part-time study
- Courses
- Order a Prospectus
- Faculties & Departments
- UK students
- EU students
- International Students
- How to apply for your course
- Handy Hints
- Open Events
- Student Recruitment
- Money Matters
- About Us
11 Sep 2006 11:41:54
Volunteers from the University of Bedfordshire are appealing to the community in a bid to help educate children in Tanzania about the high risks of HIV and AIDS.
The appeal aims to collect 25,000 textbooks along with computer and sports equipment from schools and businesses in the region, as well as raise £8,000 to cover all the costs of collecting the books and shipping them to Tanzania.
The country is the 11th poorest in the world with 1.6 million people living with HIV and AIDS. Research has shown that educating people about the risks can reduce the number contracting HIV to less than 50 per cent. But with only one book shared among five children, providing the right quality of education is difficult.
University of Bedfordshire students and the public in Beds, Herts and Bucks are being encouraged to support the appeal, launched at the University through its volunteer group, the Student Community Exchange.
Amira Elwakil, Media and Communications Project Leader of the Tanzania Book Project, explained: “Compared to other African countries, education is really developing well in Tanzania, but the shortage of books makes it difficult. Education really does matter because there are so many ways it has been proven to help children – including teaching children how to reduce the risks of contracting HIV and other infectious diseases.”
The University of Bedfordshire is one of five universities involved in the Tanzania Book Project under the umbrella of the charity, READ (Recycling Education Allowing Development) International.
Last year, READ sent 25,000 books to Tanzania and its success has encouraged the charity to expand the project with a goal of collecting 125,000 books over the coming 12 months.
The appeal has been launched by Amira and her project colleagues Ann Naylor and Sylvie Ovie. They are gearing up to get both public and student support to raise funds for the shipping costs, collect the books for secondary school children, as well as sports and computer equipment.
Amira explained what is needed: “We'd love to hear from the public who might be able to donate storage space for the books we collect, or the donation of a van to collect them in, as well as offers of raffle prizes to help us with fundraising."
Students arriving at the University for the start of the new academic year can help organise fundraising events as well as having the opportunity to help in the book collection from schools.
“The more people we can get involved, the easier it will be to raise enough money to send the books when we collect them,” said Amira.
"We will be contacting schools and libraries to donate books so that we can reach our target of 25,000. We need textbooks in good condition that match the syllabus in Tanzania, which is very similar to here.
"We hope at the same time we can educate the pupils in schools here about the issues in Africa, showing them ways they can help and to help them appreciate the importance of the education they are receiving."
For more information on the appeal please contact Amira Elwakil on 01582 489293 or email amira.elwakil@beds.ac.uk.
Latest news» 2006» Sep» Book appeal launched by University to help children in Tanzania
