YOS book sale classroom completed
Young people in one of Africa’s poorest countries are benefiting from a new classroom and teacher thanks to a project supported by Warwickshire’s Youth Offending Service.
Earlier this year, members of the county council-run service held a second-hand book sale at Rugby Library to raise money for the Bwengu Project, which aims to raise standards of education and the life chances of children in Bwengu, Malawi.
Residents donated hundreds of used books to the project – founded in 2006 by Sue Melia, a part-time sessional worker with the Youth Offending Service, and her husband Tony – to sell at the event last February.
Around three hundred pounds was raised which has gone towards the completion of a new classroom in Malawi and also pay for a teacher.
Sue, who has worked with the Youth Offending Service for nine years, said: “We always get an amazing response to the book sale and now those who supported us can see their efforts come to fruition. Not only do people in Warwickshire benefit from a good read, but also the children of Bwengu can benefit from a better education.”
Heather Shilling, Operations Manager (Interventions) for the Youth Offending Service, said: “We are always pleased to support the Bwengu project in anyway we can as it not only helps those in Africa but also the young people we work with in Warwickshire.
"They often get involved as part of their reparation programme, providing them with an opportunity to learn about charity work whilst expanding their knowledge about another country.”
For more information about the Bwengu Project, visit http://www.bwenguprojects.co.uk or for more information about the Youth Offending Service, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/yot.