After visiting my twin brothers’ orphanage in Vietnam roughly four years ago, I was inspired to make a change. Recently, a huge opportunity plopped down right in front of me and the stars aligned!
I was in search of a meaningful Boy Scout Eagle Project and our family would soon be traveling to Bagamoyo as part of the trip around the world. Eventually I connected with my always amenable godmother Erin, who lived in Tanzania, and this Eagle Project was born!
The plan is to collect books in the USA, then ship them to the Baobab House, an orphanage/school in Bagamoyo, and help build a library of early reading leveled books. I wish to collect enough leveled reading books to fill several bookshelves there!
So what is Baobab House? Baobab House NGO (non-governmental organization) is based in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, East Africa. It was founded as a small orphanage for abandoned children to provide interim care, in the hope that foster or adoptive care can be found. They accept sick and healthy children, regardless of HIV status. You can read more about the Baobab House by visiting their website!
My family and I will be in Bagamoyo for 10 days to work with people in the Bagamoyo community to build the bookshelves and organize the reading books. Can’t wait!
Kids at the Baobab House reading some of the books they have now.
My goal is to collect 1,000 books! Leveled Readers are any books for preschool-3rd grade, but if you want a more in depth description, just google search “leveled readers A-R” because that’s what the orphanage prefers. They aren’t picky though, so anything you have helps!
So how can you help?
How do you donate books:
1) You can donate through Island Books, the local bookstore on Mercer Island! Island Books has graciously agreed to help with this project…Thank you Island Books.
- If you live near Mercer Island, you can visit Island Books (3014 78th Ave. SE, Mercer Island WA 98040) go to the EARLY READER section and see the display they have helped me put together. Then, you can select books to donate. Pay for the books and the Island Books team will keep the books in the back of the store for us to pick up. Island books will have the display up for the next 2 weeks until Sept 1, 2013.
- If you don’t live near Mercer Island or are just too busy with summer activities, you can call Island Books (206.232.6920) and just buy books for the project over the phone. Their hours are Monday-Friday 9:30- 7 pm, Sat 9:30-6 pm and Sun 11 am – 5 pm, West Coast time. They can even pick them out for you! Just say you want to donate a certain dollar amount and they can select reading books that fit your budget.
- You can also email Island Books to buy. Just email info@mercerislandbooks.com and put “WESCOTT EAGLE PROJECT” in the subject line. If you are not comfortable including credit card info in an email, just give them your cell phone and the staff at Island Books will call you back.
2) If you have leveled reading books in your library that you think would be appropriate for the project, feel free to drop them off at our house on Mercer Island. My aunt Kaarina will be helping me sort and level books that are donated. If you want to mail them, send me an email at wsharp13@gmail.com and I can give you a mailing address.
Thank you in advance for your generous contributions and I will keep everyone posted on how close we are to the 1,000 book goal!
The display Roger and I put together in the early reader section at Island Books for my Eagle Project
Latest posts by Wescott (see all)
- Bottle Opener Collection - September 4, 2014
- Shoes - July 21, 2014
- The Airplane Window - July 16, 2014
17 Comments
Where in the World?
Travelers
Cliff Sharples (51)
Lisa Sharples (74)
Yve Sharples (46)
Wescott Sharples (34)
Otto Sharples (47)
Tuck Sharples (43)
Jones Sharples (41)
Janet Frohnmayer (1)
PopPop Aufranc (6)
TeeTee Aufranc (2)
Pingback: Eagle Project Update | Project Equator