READ International began life in 2004 as a small project based at Nottingham University, founded by a group of socially entrepreneurial students following a ‘gap year’ teaching in Tanzania. Now there are almost 1,000 student volunteers involved, operating from a network of over 45 university sites across the UK.

R I collect any books from anyone, anywhere throughout the UK, but focus their efforts on collecting textbooks and children’s literature from secondary schools. They sort the books and send the most relevant, up-to-date, and high quality books to schools in Tanzania and Uganda. Any books collected which are not relevant or appropriate to send are sold online or recycled to generate funding.

Tanzania and Uganda follow a secondary school syllabus almost identical to the UK, but teachers often lack the resources needed to teach. In the UK newer editions of books inevitably replace the old (very often only a couple of years old though), which makes for good quality, but technically ‘out of date’ textbooks filling up school store rooms or ending up in landfill.

The Rotary Club of Skegness have been given the over 4 pallets of used library books by The Skegness Acedemy who are totally re furbishing the school library. These books are now awaiting collection by READ International.

The Rotary Club of Skegness are pleased to be able to work in partnership with local schools and to facilitate this shipping of educational resources.