Isandlwana Primary School

[Double D]

I delivered another 150 Books this past week end.  This 150 Books to the Isandlwana Primary School





This one felt extra special as this school has no library at all

I have about 50 books left, so send me those books!!

[Will Bison]

DD;

Great pics, good work.

Bill

[Double D]

Thanks, Bill, the only work is convincing people to send books.  At the first libraries visited it appeared there were a lot of books on the shelves.  Then I found out that most of the books on the shelves are loaners from other libraries and have to be returned.  Then I learned the books on the shelf are adult level books.  Very few Children’s books are available.

In the visit to Nqutu--you have to hear how to pronounce that--I learned that the schools have no libraries at all as there is no budget for anything but the basics.  The nearest library to the school about is 60 miles away.  Very few, read almost no one has a car.  Transportation is by foot or by a Toyota HiAce Van Taxi.  With 50% unemployment and those that work averaging 500 Rand a month income a 40 Rand trip one way to the library for child is out of the question.

These books mean a lot to these people. The Lady and Gentleman in the picture above are a Teacher and the Head Master.  That  is Isandlwana Mountain and famous battlefield in the first picture.  The Movie Zulu Dawn with Burt Lancaster is about that battle.

[Cat Whisperer]

Starting another box - a friend from church brought in a sack full!

[jeeper1]

That jpg 'zuluhome01' reminds me of the ones shown in the movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy I".

[Double D]

That is a typical Zulu home.

[Cpt Ed]

Packed and shipped four boxes of books on Saturday 12-30-06. Total shipping weight was 148 lbs. Have one more box to pack just as soon as I can find a suitable carton.

The PO rejected one of my fully packed cartons from the local liquor store because it stated alcohol and Vodka on the sides. When you receive this redesigned carton with black paint on it, the word alcohol and Vodka have been covered up.   

Happy New Year to you All! 

[OGuthrie]

DD:

I saw this post on the board the other day and have been thinking about it off and on ever since. I would like to help. To whom should I send books?

I have 3 school age kids and not only do we have many 'extras', I think I could gather some from other families at school as well. When I was 17 (1985) I spent 6 months touring South Africa and Namibia. I have really nice memories from that time.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Owen Guthrie
Fairbanks, Alaska

[Double D]

Here is a link to the original Thread Books for Ulundi. 

Here is how you can help out. Send me books. I will get them to the libraries in need.  These should be good clean used children’s books but  new book would be just as good. Books should not be torn or covered in crayon marks etc. Good books only!

Where to get books? Stop by thrift stores and ask for them, check yard sales and look in your own kids’ room.

Ed Fitler has sent over 700 books himself.  He sent me this email the other day:

“On Friday my wife and I were visiting the Life Changing Ministries Thrift Store to find and purchase item we really don’t need. The manager Keith approached me and asked if we still wanted children books for Africa. Of course, I said sure. He pointed to the back of his rather large store to the children’s book section and told me to take whatever I wanted for free.

My wife & I spent probably an hour selecting books we thought were appropriate to send over. We were able to completely fill up two large shopping carts of books and probably over 100lbs in total. When I have a chance sometime soon, probably after the first of the year, I will pack some of them up and send them along to you.

I like telling Ed's story because a month or so ago he sent an email saying his wife had drawn the line and said enough is enough...look at her now right in there gathering books. She's a softee Ed, keep her!!

Check the Thrift stores. Tell the management what you need the books for, maybe you will get lucky also.

You can also help by passing this message on to your friends and family and ask them to send books, and oh yeah, and ask them to pass this message along. 

How to send the books?  Book rate! Boxes can weigh no more than 50 pounds.  50 pounds of books at book rate from West coast to East coast is less that $20.  I suggested earlier to use the falt rate boxes, don't..  These boxes a bit small and for the same money you can send a lot more books book rate.

Send the books to me at:

Douglas B. Dickens
2490 Durban Place
Dulles, VA 20189

You send them and I will continue to get them to the kids!!!

[OGuthrie]

Thanks! I'll get on it.

-Owen

[Double D]

Got boxes of books for the kids up in Zululand in the mail to day.

Mike an Tracy from Seacoast Artillery sent 455 books , 35 Books came from Jeff Bikle, 15 books from Roger and Marcia Ingle, 72 books from Ms. Pilons 6-5 class at Kingsley Jr. High and 107 books from Siraina Dickens-Cole (she's my Grand-daughter- she'll get a big hug next I see her).

Thank you every one for your kindness and generosity.  I can use every book I can get my hands on!!!

[Cpt Ed]

DD:

 I Found a suitable carton and box #5 is in the mail 23lbs.

 Headed you way now is a total of five boxes with a combined weight of 171 lbs.

 Hope you have some sturdy transportation,

 Good luck and God bless.

[Double D]

Don't worry Ed, you get the books to me and I'llo get the books to the kids if my Atos can't haul them we'll get the Baake out and haul them!

[Cpt Ed]

Ok DD,
 I will bite...what kind of a machine is a BAAKE?   

[Ex 49'er]

3 boxes with a total weight of 60 lbs. were mailed today. If my school has any more surplus books, I'll send them your way.

[Double D]

Baake, baake, you know like Toyota or Nissan or Ford F-150!!      Thats what teh call pick-up trucks down here.  Boy could we haul some books with one those...

Thank x-9'r!!! We can use every one!

[Double D]

More books came in this week!!! Thanks guys!!!  WE are fast approaching our new goal of 5000 books.  So far 3403 books have been donated and 1622 books have been delivered to two libraries and two schools.  I have on hand 1781 books.  We still have a delivery to make to the second Nqutu district library.  We are working on a small delivery to a Crèche (nursery school) near Empangeni.  We are still trying to set up delivery to an orphanage and an AIDS children hospital in the Durban area. 

Here is who sent books this week and their total books donated.

Ed Fitler….1108
Wiley Harris….123
Mike and Tracy, Seacoast Artillery Company….893
Ms. Pilons 6-5 Class….110
Siraina Dickens-Cole….158

Wiley, I know a couple “big” kids who will appreciate the American Rifleman and Muzzle Blasts magazines.

Thanks to all and keep those books coming, every single books counts!

[Double D]

61 more books came in today from ex49er,thanks Mark.

We are only 1448 books away from our Goal of 5000 books.  Who is going to put us over the top?