I hate asking for help. I hate asking for money even more. It makes me uncomfortable. “I can do it myself” has been my mantra for a long time. Yet those feelings and attitude have changed.
Starting a nonprofit last year was tougher than I thought. Filling out paperwork and filing documents with the IRS was time consuming. Driving around the suburbs, picking up boxes of books from schools was labor intensive. Sorting all of the donated books required more thought and more time than I could have ever imagined. At times, I was uncomfortable.
Being uncomfortable with a new path in life is living outside of my comfort zone. It’s putting myself out there, knowing not everyone is as passionate about literacy, but still wanting to get the word out. As A to Z has slowly moved forward, being uncomfortable has helped me grow. I now understand that I can’t be the One Woman Show. I need support. I need volunteers, book finders, book sorters and fundraisers. I need folks who like marketing and have great ideas on how to make A to Z Literacy Movement even better. It’s being a bit uncomfortable that motivates me to continue what I set out to accomplish. It’s knowing that too many children are depending on me to deliver books to their schools, churches and homes. Care to join me?

Hey you!!
Great to hear from you! How are you? I hope you’re well.
Things are going great here. The school opened on Monday after a month’s break and the kids are really excited to be back. During the break, Sian (being as efficient as ever!) came up with a new timetable just for Term 3 that reduced the amount of teaching time per teacher but increased the quality of the teaching programme, particularly on the numeracy side. We recruited 2 new teachers (since we saw how well it worked with 5 teachers when you and Betty were around) and Sian ran a week of training sessions for all the teachers.

We also got clocks for each classroom and a bell, which one of the teachers rings at the end of teach period! It’s fantastic, just like a western school! And so far so good – everything’s running like clockwork.

On the construction side, we’re nearly done with the foundation for the
administration building. By early November the whole thing will be done.

I’m so delighted to hear that you’ll still be supporting Shine. Thanks for
sending more books and teaching materials – please just let me know when to expect them.
Love,
Vineet

Moses is a student at Shine Reading Academy. It’s easy to see he is a leader among his peers at school.  Moses loves his family and friends and likes to read books. He goes to church every Sunday. Math is his favorite school subject, and someday, Moses would like to be an accountant.

It was hard not to notice all of the unique names of the little shops and stores on the way to school everyday. The Zambians definitely have a way with words! Some stores were actual structures with cinder block walls, while others utilized cardboard or grain sacks as siding for their place of business. Here are a few of my favorites:

• No Jesus No Life Grocery
• Blessed Crown Hardware
• Dizzy Night Hair Salon
• Life Goes On Barbershop
• Sunshine Saloon and Barbershop (thinking salon/saloon – is there really a difference?)
• Get Besy Barbershop (thinking it was supposed to be “Get Busy”)
• God Knows Hair Salon
• Blessed Oasis Grocery

Flying out of Zambia, I sat next to a Texan cattle rancher and his son. The two had been hunting wild game and very much enjoyed their time in country. As I explained my purpose in Zambia and A to Z Literacy Movement, a sense of accomplishment came over me. Six hours later, I flew out of Johannesburg and enjoyed chatting with a young family from South Africa. The couple asked thoughtful questions about my time in Africa, and again, as I talked about working with vulnerable children, I felt happiness and success. While boarding the plane in London, I noticed an African bracelet on an American woman in front of me. We struck up a conversation and I learned she is working in Tanzania with her husband. As I talked about providing books to impoverished children so they can experience the love of reading, she asked for my card and said we would need to stay in touch. During the last hours of my journey home, I reflected on how fortunate I am for all the people who have helped get A to Z off the ground. I am grateful for all of the generous donations and I will continue to grow the organization for all the kids needing books to read!