from Ghana, with love

GIVE BOOKS! One book can change a child’s life, but too many children don’t have access to the kinds of libraries we enjoy here in the U.S. You can support groups like Golden Baobab in Ghana and Hands Across the Sea in Bedford, MA. I had a chance to talk to Harriet Linskey last week and you wouldn’t believe everything she and her husband (and a team of volunteers) go through to build libraries in Caribbean schools. I would be SO happy if I never got another piece of jewelry for my birthday or for Xmas; for years I’ve been trying to get my relatives to make a donation instead, and these two literacy orgs are at the top of my list. Last week I received a bundle of letters from the girls at the Youth Institute for Science and Technology in Ghana—THIS is what even a small donation of books can do:

The reason why I am writing to you this letter is to say an appreciation for what you did for us at the conference. Madam, I want to tell you that I’m really happy to thank you because you donated us some books and bags and I think [it] is because we are genius students and how we speak our English. That was why you gave those things to us. May the almight[y] God bless you and your family and also increase your salary in any job that you do.  ~ Regina

The main reason why [I] am writing this letter to you is to thank you for the books you gave to us. In fact the book is interesting and good for us who want to be a writer. In my own way I think that if someone gives you something you should be grateful and show appreciation to what the person gave you because in this world not all people gives and so if someone gives you something you must show something so that they will know that you appreciate. Zetta, may all your dreams comes through. May you become a great writer. May you live to be 1000 years and above. May you live to see your great great great grandchildren give birth to another great grandchildren of yours. Thank you so much.   ~ Veronica

The reason why I am writing you this letter is that I want to be your role mod[el] and also I like writing poems and stories. And also I want to be famous like you. I also like you as my friend so that you will help me whenever I am writing poems or stories. And again on 19 May 2013 I read one of your books. I enjoyed it very much. So I want you to help me whenever I am writing a poem or story. Furthermore the reason why I choose you was that I like the way you talk and the way you walk. And also you are friendly. That is why I like you as my role mod[el]. I hope to hear from you soon.   ~ Doreenda

Also I have heard more about the famous people in Africa. I would like to tell you the person I like best when we went to the Organization of Women Writers of Africa. The person I like best was Zetta Elliott. The reason why I am saying this is that they were selling bags [but] most of us were not having money to buy some but this woman brought some to all of us. She also gave us about six or seven books. All her books were interest[ing]. That is why I like her.   ~ anonymous

Shortly after I returned from Ghana I received this email from the girls’ teacher, Kaitlin:

“On behalf of the Youth Institute of Science and Technology, I want to say thank you very much for your generosity. The girls were so enthralled by the books that you gave to them and they were so proud to bring them back to the school. Now everyone is enjoying the books- we have a library checkout and as soon as one student returns one of your books, about 10 more fight over who gets to read them next. Your gift to the school has brought joy to many students and gotten them excited to read again, which is priceless.”

GIVE BOOKS!