Nelson Mandela International Day 18 July - ACTSA Scotland Book Appeal

The United Nations has designated Nelson Mandela’s birthday every 18th July as Nelson Mandela International Day, when people throughout the world are encouraged to give 67 minutes of voluntary service to the community in whatever way they choose, to help change the world for the better.
 

On that date this year ACTSA Scotland (Action for Southern Africa) is asking people to use their 67 minutes to sort out and bring us children’s books to be sent to school libraries in Nelson Mandela’s home Province of Eastern Cape, with which Scotland has a particular link.

 

What are needed are children’s books of all kinds, in English, to encourage reading for fun. This helps to develop fluency in reading English which is vital for all parts of the children’s education. (Their mother tongue is mainly Xhosa, but education is mostly in English).

 

Story books or factual books, for all ages from pre-school to teenagers, are welcome – Books that will amuse, absorb, inform and catch the imagination of young readers.

 

They must be in good condition, please – no loose or taped up pages, or badly damaged covers, and factual books should not be too out of date.

Any help with the cost of shipping the books to South Africa would also be very welcome– A container holds 1000 boxes, costing £3.50 each to send.

On 18^th July a number of collection points in towns and cities across Scotland will be open to receive donations of books.

 

Dundee GMB office, Kimberley Buildings, 38, Whitehall St., Dundee DD1 4AF

Edinburgh NAS/UWT office, 35, Young St. North Lane, Edinburgh EH2 4JD

Glasgow STUC offices, 333, Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6NG or any Glasgow public library

Kilmarnock GMB office, 9, The Foregate, Kilmarnock KA1 1LU

Inverness UNISON Highland Area Resource Centre, 53, Shore St., Inverness IV1 1NF

Paisley Independent Financial Advice Centre (Glasgow) Ltd., 67, Causeyside St., Paisley PA1 1YT

                                   

 

If that date or these locations are unsuitable for you, contact ACTSA Scotland at the e-mail or postal addresses below to make other arrangements for your books to be delivered or collected.

 

Enquiries to ACTSA Scotland, 52, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4AA

John.Nelson@actsascotland.org.uk

www.actsascotland.org.uk

(Please don’t bring books to this small unstaffed office – Contact us first.)