our mission
The African Library Project changes lives, book by book, together with partners in Africa and North American volunteers, to create, improve, and sustain libraries in African communities.
four+ million donated books
Our grassroots approach mobilizes volunteers in North America to collect and donate gently used books and an international network of partners in Africa. We work in English-speaking countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that have a significant need for books with partners who can meet our criteria for sustainable library development. ALP’s book drive approach allows North Americans the ability to share their love for reading by providing books to fellow learners that do not have the same access to children’s books.
partnering organizations
We are proud to partner with local African-based organizations that are dedicated to promoting literacy and library development in Sub-Saharan Africa. These trusted organizations provide librarian-teacher training among many other activities that support library growth. The African Library Project is currently partnered with 13 organizations in seven Sub-Saharan African countries.
Give with Confidence
For African Library Project’s latest annual financials please click here. The African Library Project is proud to be a four-star rated organization with Charity Navigator and a platinum rated organization with GuideStar.
alp’s impact
The African Library Project (ALP) has created and improved over 3,000 small libraries across 13 countries in Sub Saharan Africa. We are currently active in Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya (left-to-right from the map, yellow highlighted countries). Through our established partnerships with local organizations and volunteers in North America, we create, improve, and sustain 200+ new small libraries every year.
alp’s story
It all started in 2004, when a family from Northen California visited the beautiful mountains of Lesotho, a country in southern Africa, landlocked by South Africa.
Alp Team
Nontuthuzelo Nikiwe
Chair
Nontuthuzelo is a Stakeholder Engagement and Reporting Specialist at a State-owned company in South Africa. She has been the key player in developing systemic social development and innovation around community practice and systemic change; strategic development and the implementation of social impact programmes across South Africa with community-specific solutions design and practices. She is an avid reader and is passionate about literacy and education for young people.
Jennifer Anderson-Ochoa
Vice Chair
With a Master’s in International Administration, Jennifer lived in South Africa and Lesotho, and worked in HIV/AIDS prevention and children’s support in South Africa, Lesotho, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia. Currently, she works with community-based programs and government agencies, evaluating their work and assessing community conditions with an equity lens. As the daughter of a librarian, and the mother of a Mosotho-American, she looks forward to honoring both by contributing to the African Library Project.
Harry Nachnani
Secretary
Harry is a high-tech professional at Google, with passion in bringing global teams together to improve user & advertiser experience. Growing up in India, he saw first hand how even a small increase in literacy rate can go a long way in reducing unemployment and poverty. He is very passionate about ALP’s mission of changing lives through literacy in Africa and wants to help them scale to more libraries in more countries.
Louis Lallia
Treasurer
Holder of a B.A. in Modern Literature (Université de la Sorbonne-Nouvelle), Louis is an Alumni of l’Institut des Etudes Politiques de Paris from which he holds an M.A in Finance and Strategy. He joined AXYS in 2012, and spearheaded AXYS Group’s international development. In April 2019, he was appointed Managing Director of AXYS Private. He now occupies the position of Managing Director, Head of Client Coverage and Sustainability.
Kevin Morgan
Assistant Treasurer & Board Member
Kevin’s background is developing corporate marketing for global brands. Twenty years ago he started to volunteer his time in literacy education and eventually served as the President & CEO of ProLiteracy, an international nonprofit organization, for nine years. He believes that the foundation of positive social impact is achieved through increasing literacy rates and is passionate about ALP’s missions of changing lives, book by book.
Anu Kulkarni
Chair Emeritus (ex officio)
Anu came to ALP through an extremely rewarding book drive led by a group of 3rd grade girls at her daughter’s school. She is a political scientist at Stanford University, specializing in the study of post-conflict development, democratization, and human rights. She has conducted research in sub-Saharan Africa for the past 20 years and is familiar with the type of communities where ALP creates libraries.
Joash S. Aminga
Board Member
Joash has over 30+ years of experience in Library and Information Services. He serves as a Deputy Director, Library Services and Vice Chairman of the Association of Government Librarians in Kenya. Joash has continuously supported rural communities in knowledge sharing initiatives. He has a BSc degree in Information Management, a Masters of Philosophy, and is currently pursuing a PhD with Kisii University in Library and Information Sciences.
Craig Anderson
Board Member & South Africa Liaison
Craig’s African journey began as a Peace Corps teacher in Lesotho. He stayed, working on education projects. Later, he joined the U.S. Foreign Service. He spent 36 years in Africa. After retirement, a book drive fell in his lap. Knowing books expand horizons, he shipped a container load to his South African home. Serendipity struck! As he promoted literacy in the community, he met an ALP board member. She invited him to join ALP’s Book Summit in Lesotho. He’s hooked!
Kamala Madavarapu
Board Member
Kamala is a Data Modeling expert at Citibank with a passion to derive actionable insights from huge volumes of data. She grew up in India with a deep interest to spread the value of literacy across the globe and believes "Education is a basic human right". She is extremely motivated by ALP's commitment to serve the African communities and it's profound impact by nurturing the young minds.
Lebogang Mashaba
Board Member
Lebo is an experienced Human Capital Development Specialist with 20+ years of expertise in fostering growth and cultivating leadership skills. She holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA), a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management, and a range of certifications including Professional Director, Assessor, Moderator, and Skills Development Facilitator. She is passionate about education, youth development, and building startup ecosystems to reduce unemployment and empower women.
Lauren Small
Interim Executive Director
Lauren has worked with organizations for 10+ years and her primary expertise lies in organizational governance, and marketing and communications. She graduated with a bachelor’s in business, specializing in marketing from Hofstra University. As an avid reader, Lauren understands the power and importance of reading a good book and loves that African Library Project is bridging a gap for too many in Africa without the proper library resources.
Chris Bradshaw
Founder and Malawi Liaison
Chris Noel Bradshaw spent her junior year at Fourah Bay College, part of the University of Sierra Leone, studying African religion, law, and literature. She traveled through western and central Africa, acquainting herself with African traditions. In 2004, Chris was inspired to start African Library Project while visiting Lesotho.
Pamela Bostelmann
Container Manager
Pamela’s passion for Africa led to two English Language Fellow assignments: teaching at the Ministry of Justice (Asmara, Eritrea) and the University of Burundi and its Institute of Applied Pedagogy (Bujumbura). She attended Bennington College, graduated from Columbia University, and earned an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from San Francisco State University.
Julie Freeman
Operations Director & Kenya Liaison
Julie is a lifelong book lover and reader with an interest in Africa. Julie has extensive experience as a communicator and a non-profit executive, including her last full-time role as staff President of the International Association of Business Communicators. Now Julie works on occasional consulting assignments, which gives her time for volunteering and reading with her grandchildren.
Tracy Gaestel
Container Manager & Uganda Liaison
Tracy, a teacher, reading specialist and librarian came to love Africa after being asked to work with teachers there. ALP was a great match when she was looking for ways to help schools in Africa get books for their students. She is thrilled to work with an organization that works to improve literacy by putting books into the hands of students.
Kara Howard
Lesotho Liaison
Pictured here organizing ALP donated books as a Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho, Kara believes passionately in every child's right to read! With experience as a classroom teacher in four countries, she currently manages a project working to provide teachers globally with access to high quality professional development opportunities. As a proud book lover, she is excited to play a small part in offering more people the opportunity to love them too!
Claire Hubel
Container Manager
After experiencing the magic that happens when children and books meet, Claire was thrilled to be introduced to the African Library Project by her daughter Mae and her high school Leo Club. Before earning a MS Teaching Credential at Notre Dame de Namur University, Claire graduated with a BA Hons from Oxford University.
Kathleen Long
Ghana Liaison
Kathleen Long is a corporate leader committed to the liberation of all people. She is a diversity and inclusion champion, and a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. She had many challenges growing up but made her own way in life by reading the stories of others. Kathleen is in love with literature, and enjoys volunteering with African Library Project and as a literacy tutor to spread this joy worldwide.
Quety Marie
Container Manager
Quety is a passionate Library and Information Science graduate on a mission to create unforgettable experiences for every library user. Her dedication extends beyond the library walls, as she takes great joy in helping executives and business owners shine by expertly managing their administrative tasks. When she's not making a difference at work, Quety loves diving into captivating TV shows, battling it out in board games, and enjoying a good read.
Nyasha Satande
Intake Coordinator
As an Intake Coordinator at the African Library Project, Nyasha facilitates the intake process for new Book Drive Organizers (BDOs), ensuring they are efficiently connected with our team. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Library and Information Studies from the University of Cape Town and is currently pursuing her master's degree in the same field. Her academic background equips her with strong skills in information management and organizational processes, which she applies to support the mission of increasing access to books and promoting literacy in African communities.
Alice Valentine
Container Manager & Botswana Liaison
Alice is a former elementary school teacher who loves children, books, education, Africa, and recycling - so volunteering for ALP is a perfect match! She has had the privilege of traveling to many countries and through various organizations has helped to provide teachers with training and materials, and children with books and school resources.
Nancy Beth Garrett
Container Manager
volunteer your time, enthusiasm, skill, and knowledge
The African Library Project relies on volunteers to help operate its book drive and library program, marketing, technology, and much more. Operative roles like managing containers and liaising with in-country Partners, are imperative to the organization’s success. Volunteer roles are a fantastic opportunity for those looking for a longstanding impactful role.
