Opening a World of Possibilities

In May 2018, Lake Chelan Rotary members visited two schools in Narok County, Kenya—Kisiriri Primary School and Nkoilale Primary School. Each school faced its own unique challenges, but they shared one thing in common: eager children who wanted to learn and a heartbreaking lack of books.

At Kisiriri Primary School, the “library” was little more than a locked closet in a classroom. Inside were a few old workbooks and magazines, but there were no storybooks—no books to spark imagination, inspire curiosity, or simply allow a child to enjoy the magic of reading.

Seeing this need, Lake Chelan Rotary’s Storybook Libraries project was born.

Our goal was simple: collect donated books and send them to Kenya every three or four months until each school had a library of approximately 1,500 books. The books are selected for children ages 6 to 14, providing everything from early-learning and beginning-reader books to chapter books for more advanced students.

Since the project began, we have sent more than 12,000 books to Kenya and helped establish libraries in six schools.

But the need continues.

We are looking for good-quality, gently used books that are appropriate for young readers—from picture books and early readers to chapter books and age-appropriate nonfiction. Every book has the potential to open a door to a new world, build confidence, strengthen reading skills, and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

Your gently used books can become a child’s treasured book.

If you have books to donate, please contact Lake Chelan Rotary. We’ll be happy to arrange pickup and help get your books into the hands of some very eager children who are waiting to read, learn, and imagine.