This October, give a child their first library
It's National Book Month and International School Library Month. Help us raise $20,000 to ship libraries to children across Africa who have never had one.
"When the books arrived, the children didn't walk — they ran. They pulled books from the boxes before we could even set up the shelves."
— Partner librarian, Uganda, 2026
Across sub-Saharan Africa, millions of children attend schools with no library — and no books beyond a single shared textbook. Without access to books, reading development stalls. Without school libraries, the joy of choosing a story that belongs to you never arrives.
The African Library Project has spent 20 years closing that gap — connecting generous volunteers in North America with schools and communities in Africa, shipping containers of donated books to vetted partner organizations who establish real, functioning libraries complete with trained librarians.
This October — in honor of both National Book Month and International School Library Month — we are raising $20,000 to fund our next wave of shipments. Will you be part of it?
What your gift does this October
$25 - A box of books
Ships roughly 25 books toward a new school library — a child's first encounter with a story they can choose.
$95 - A complete library unit
Ships 500 books to one school — enough to fill a library and give children access to books for years.
$190 - A full 1,000-book school library
Funds the complete shipping cost for a 1,000-book library — the single greatest impact a donor can have in one gift.
Any - Every dollar counts
100% of your gift goes to shipping, librarian training, and getting books into children's hands. No amount is too small.
Make your October gift today
Donate online or via Zelle in flyer. Every gift before October 31 counts toward our $20,000 goal.
October Campaign Resources
This is our campaign one-pager — designed to be shared. Please email it to your personal and professional networks, share it on LinkedIn and Facebook, or print it for in-person events. It includes the real Zelle QR code, our donation website, and ALP’s impact stats.
ALP October Fundraising Flyer (PDF)
Personal Ask Email Template (Word)
This is a ready-to-send email you can copy, personalize with the recipient’s name and your own name, and send directly from your inbox. No writing required — just customize and send. Attach the PDF flyer when you send it.