African Library Project’s First 2024 Winners of Presidential Volunteer Service Awards

We are pleased and proud to announce the inaugural winners of the prestigious Presidential Volunteer Service Awards (PVSA).  These Awards, administered by Americorps and Points of Light, allow Certifying Organizations – such as the African Library Project – to recognize their volunteers and are also intended to recognize and promote volunteer service in the U.S.

We hope you’ll be as thrilled as we are when you read about these hard-working young people.

Book Drive Organizer Nihara Ekanayake garnered a Bronze Award for her work providing libraries for Bawku Senior High Technical School in the Upper East Region of Ghana and Thambani Community Day Secondary School in Mwanza, Malawi.  In addition to her Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Nihara earned a Certificate of Recognition “for contributions to leadership, community engagement and social entrepreneurship” from The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, MD.  That award, for which she had presented a video of her project for a Student Expo at school, included seed money for her next Book Drives!  Nihara reports that “One of my most memorable experiences was spending the day with one of my elderly neighbors, going through hundreds of books in her garage. I was surprised by the generosity of my community and even the strangers who were eager to get involved and help out with this project.” Big congratulations to Nihara for these awards honoring her work for the African Library Project. 

Honorees Ella Georges and Trinity Martinez, 11-year-old members of Girl Scout Troop 8976, Burbank, CA, each won a Silver Medal for working together to create THREE libraries for the 2024 Malawi Container.  Their books went to Mtata Preschool Community Library, Lumbadzi, Dowa; First Class Academy in Kiwale, Lilongwe; and Nkhande Full Primary School in Chibuli Village, Marka, Nsanje.  Ella writes, “When I first learned about the ALP I was so happy that there was a way to help kids around the world read and get as excited as I get when I read a new book.  I really believe I can help, and I wanted to make a difference and the world a better place.  I wanted other kids to be happy too.”  We are thrilled to provide these young ladies with a clear path of service going forward.

The African Library Project is very happy to facilitate this recognition of some of our hard-working Book Drive Organizers.  We encourage ALL 2024 Book Drive Organizers to document their hours and apply for Presidential Volunteer Service Awards.  More information may be found here:  https://www.africanlibraryproject.org/resources-faq#resources