Shine Reading Academy Zambia Day 1: Learning is universal. After learning about the A to Z Literacy Movement and now being a piece of the puzzle, I see so clearly how this idea was grown. When I started teaching today, I felt just as at home as when I am in room 35 at Richard F. Bernotas Middle School in Crystal Lake. Students are students whether in Lusaka or Crystal Lake. Humans are eager to learn and curious by nature. The fact that A to Z Literacy acknowledges that and feeds that hunger is perfect. Like the book we read today Beautiful Blackbird, by Ashley Bryan we are all different inside and out, but because of that we must love our differences and each other. Education allows the opportunity to celebrate and love those differences. The A to Z Literacy Movement works to allow the opportunity to have an education.

“A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” – Mohandas K. Ghandi
So far in 2011, A to Z Literacy Movement has shipped six boxes of books to Hope Ministries in Zambia. We have shipped six boxes of books to Calvary School and six boxes have been sent to a little library in Lusaka created for Every Orphans Hope kids. We have shipped six boxes to Sylve, a Peace Corps volunteer, who is working to empower women and children in her village. The final shipment will go out this week to another little library in Kabwe that is connected with a hospice house and daycare facility. A to Z is extremely proud to have helped so many NGO’s and volunteers, trying to promote the love of reading in Zambia!

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” – Bishop Desmond Tutu
Because of you and many successful book drives, we now have boxes of beautiful books needing to get into the hands of young readers. Thinking locally, A to Z would like to begin to find more groups, schools and organizations that could utilize gently used books here in Illinois, but we need your help. We would love to have a volunteer, or two, step up to assist with the local outreach for A to Z Literacy Movement. If this sounds like something you want to get involved in, please email Mal@atozliteracy.org and let her know you want to help strengthen our local outreach program.

“Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven.” – Henry Ward Beecher
Children are givers. Adolescents really do think of others. Teens care about poverty and orphan children on the other side of the globe. This has been proven time and time again as we have celebrated generous fundraisers and book drives in schools around Illinois. It’s inspiring to see so many kids caring about other kids. We as parents, teachers, and role models must continue to encourage children to have the moral courage and intrinsic motivation to want to help, to better understand how fortunate we are, and to continue to create a better place for all the children of the world.

Hi Mal,
The school that will be receiving the books is Mapalo Community School located in Matete village. It was started by the Peace Corps volunteer before me and was made specifically to help orphans and vulnerable children in Kafutuma catchment area. There are about 50 to 60 kids that attend. I am now working with the executive group at the school to create income-generating activities so that they can help with the teacher fees, providing food for the kids and even help with making learning materials. With the books received from A to Z literacy, we will start a library at the school. The community is already contributing materials to make it a success. The books will also be open for community use as well. The school has teachers, but struggles to pay them. My role with the school has been working with the executive group and forming a literacy club to help the kids learn English. I have also formed a girls club to empower girls to be independent individuals. I will be working with them to increase self-esteem and teaching the girls about HIV and continuing education. I have found that girls/women suffer from lack of education which causes them to be stuck in poverty, having no way out and to be submissive to things that endanger their lives. Again thanks so much for the book donations. God Bless.

A to Z is fortunate for the wonderful volunteers lending a helping hand as we work to meet our 2011 goals. Recently, two elementary schools hosted fundraisers for A to Z and donated over $1300. A youth librarian compiled a list of books that will best serve the young students at Esther School in Zambia. She is also seeking out local nonprofits and groups to donate books that would be more appropriate for children in Illinois. High school students have sorted hundreds of books that have been donated. They have worked diligently checking covers, pages and story content. Teachers have sorted and boxed books, ensuring the variety and content of the children’s selections. Once the boxes were ready to be shipped, another volunteer completed the customs paperwork and shipping labels. Two more A to Z volunteers have been searching for possible grant opportunities to help our organization. Their work will assist in sustaining us and we are grateful for their time. Our volunteer web designer has spent countless hours reworking and fine tuning the website. She is committed to our mission of increasing literacy and the love of reading in impoverished places. Many more volunteers are spreading the word about A to Z Literacy Movement. They are networking with people in the community to help us grow. The A to Z volunteers are the power behind our organization and we couldn’t move forward without them.

We each have a gift, something that we are spectacular at, something that fulfills us. A to Z Literacy Movement provides volunteers with the opportunity to use that gift to make a lasting impression in the lives of others. I have had the opportunity to donate my time and ideas to help A to Z over the past two years. As a sponsor of the NJHS at Bernotas Middle School, I was able to use my gift of developing ideas to help shape a yearly Walk-a-thon, where all proceeds went to A to Z. It was a great experience to see our 7th and 8th grade students walking around the track as an example of their support in promoting literacy for students in Zambia. Remember, we all have a gift to offer. What is yours? A to Z Literacy Movement definitely has a need that your gift alone can fill.

Guest writer:  Amy MacCrindle

I was flattered when Mal asked me if I would help format the program for On the Vine: Celebrating Books and Wine, A to Z’s first fundraiser. I love formatting papers (nerdy, I know!). After dozens of emails, I was finally able to produce the final product. I had never made a silent auction program before, but somehow everything came together! After working on the program, I thought it would be a great visual for guests to see numbers on the items they were bidding on. Another love of mine is scrapbooking, so I offered to make the signs for the tables and the numbers for each item at the auction. I’m so fortunate to be involved with an organization that benefits the literacy of children in Africa. I believe strongly in literacy and was honored to lend a hand.

Guest writer: Laura Strebler