Alina Guyon just received approval for her Girl Scout Gold Award, and is hoping you can help with the project:
I’m building a library in a refugee camp in Uganda. It’s a big undertaking and requires planning, organization and the coordination of a team of people. My goal is to collect 3,000 books and create a library that many refugees have access to.
So far, Fauntleroy UCC and Hope Lutheran School have kindly donated many books, which add up to over 2,300 collected for the library. But, I would love your help so I can reach my goal of 3,000 books!
How can you help? Please bring any books and educational supplies, that you would like to donate, to VAIN (4513 California Ave SW). VAIN is open from 10 am-6 pm on weekends, 12-8 pm on Monday, and 10-8 pm Tuesday – Friday. The box for donated books will be at VAIN until December 28th.
Why Refugees? There are currently 65 million refugees in the world – more than in any time in our history since World War II. These are people who are forcibly removed from their homes and flee for their safety; half are children under the age of 18, according to the United Nations (UNHCR http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html) The average time a person spends in a refugee camp is over seven years, and the children lose access to schools and education. Without education, the opportunity to improve their situation is minimal. Refugee children without access to reading and an education represent a lost generation.
Why Uganda? While Syrian refugees have received attention in the news, there is also a huge refugee crisis in Africa. Uganda has the fastest-growing refugee population in Africa, accepting over 100,000 new refugees in 2016 alone.
Their neighboring countries of South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are war-torn. While Uganda doesn’t have many resources, they are compassionate to the plight of their neighbors.
Uganda is home to many languages, but English is the common spoken language. So books in English are perfect! I am partnering with an organization in Uganda that serves refugees and has a small school. The organization is called Hope of Children and Women and they are very excited to receive the library.
Contact information: AGuyon19@holynames-sea.org
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