Last year a rural village called Mphako in Malawi received books for the very first time from Book Aid InternationalSupplies much-needed books to developing countries, raising funds from publishers and general public; 'Reverse Book Club' is masterly idea-for just £5 ($10) month you can provide 48 books to go to where they're most needed. Representatives of the Book Aid team were there to join in the celebrations, and see the joy that every book sent by the charity brings.
Mphako is one of many places around the world where books are truly rare. Poverty is the norm, and schools are hugely over-crowded and under-resourced. I visited alongside representatives of the Gumbi Education Fund, a UK NGO which focuses on improving the lives of children through access to education and works in the region, to celebrate the opening of a new community library built by the fund. We provided a collection of brand new, carefully selected books for the library, including many children's books.