World books for Bwengu
Warwickshire’s Youth Justice Service is collecting old books this week to help improve the educational standards in one of Africa’s poorest countries.
During World Book Day on 4 March, a drop box will be located at Rugby Library for residents to donate any old reading material that will be sold later in the year, raising money for the Bwengu Project.
The project was set up in 2006 by Sue Melia – a part time sessional worker with the Youth Justice Service – and her husband Tony to help children in Bwengu, Malawi.
Since then, hundreds of books have been donated and sold for the cause with the help of young people with the Youth Justice Service, as part of their reparation programme.
Heather Shilling, Operations Manager (Interventions) for the Youth Justice Service, said: “World Book Day is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the Bwengu Project’s work with children in Africa and how the whole community - and much further afield - can enjoy the benefits of reading.
“The young people we work with also have an opportunity to help make up for crimes they have committed by preparing books for sale to residents later in the year.
“The Youth Justice Service regularly works with the Library Service to promote the benefits of reading for both young people and adults, and we are very thankful for their support.”
For more information about the Bwengu Project, visit http://www.bwenguprojects.co.uk or for more information about the Youth Justice Service, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/yot.