Edinburgh students join Africa books appeal

Edinburgh students are the first in Scotland to set up a campaign to send unused books to African schools as part of the READ International campaign.

The campus book drive is run in 28 different UK universities and focuses on students and staff donating disused textbooks.

The Edinburgh University project is the first of its kind in Scotland. Despite only being founded late last year but organisers hopes to redistribute 25000 books to Uganda this summer.

Eloise Burnett, one of the four project leaders said: “This semester the charity is focusing on raising the rest of the fundraising total; we are currently at £5000 and need to hit at £7500.

"The main bulk of the £5000 was raised through sales of our naked calendar. We also need to collect around 15000 more books and really get the campus book drive going.”

The books that are collected in drop boxes around the University of Edinburgh are sorted along with those collected from schools. If they are deemed appropriate and in good enough quality they are sent to Africa. The rest are sold by READ’s partner 'Better World Books' online, who give READ half the profits.

The drop boxes are currently set up in David Hume Tower, Drummond Street, Crystal Macmillan and KB House. READ will be holding a nationwide 'Campus Book Drive Week' with fundraising events and a gig to raise awareness and money.

Since its formation in 2003 by a small group of gap year students returning from Tanzania, the charity has redistributed over half a million used textbooks as well as several tons of sports kit, science equipment and stationary. READ Edinburgh is the first project to start up in Scotland and currently has the highest fundraising total in the UK.

Their work has attracted the attention and support of MSP Mike Pringle, of Edinburgh South, who said: “The READ book project is an excellent initiative. It really is incredible how a small group of students’ idea has grown into an international project exporting thousands of books a year and supporting learning across several countries.”

He has called upon the Scottish government, schools and universities to back READ International Edinburgh University’s campaign.

Laela Adamson, project co-ordinator for Tanzania said: “I want to encourage schools and universities across Scotland to get in touch and get involved, old textbooks shouldn’t be thrown away but redistributed to where they are needed most.”