Article 19: Young Ugandans impacting lives of the less vulnerable, one book at a time

Written by Adv. Brownie Ebal

Legal Practitioner, venture capitalist and Philanthropist

TRIGGER MOMENT:

As a World At School Global Youth Ambassador for Education in Uganda, I was honoured to be able to attend the Youth Assembly at the United nations . There was a 15 year old girl who started her own NGO called pencil foundation that donated pencils to children in Africa. I was challenged by her bravery and wondered why I kept holding myself back giving excuses of not helping the world because I was too young or had no money.

Attending the UN general assembly

Motivated by this young lady, I sat down with friends and we decided to set up an NGO. We named it “Kitabu-Buk” project which means Kitabu-Book in Swahili and Buk- Book in Luo, my mother tongue.

The NGO collects used and new books from Ugandans who have excess and distributes them to schools to help with their learning. We also provide children with career guidance at our donation events.

GETTING BOOKS FROM OUR HOUSE

I then went back home and decided to help with the resources that I had. We had books in our house and thereforeI realised that we needed to donate them to children who couuld not afford such books.

FIRST DONATION EVENT

This was organised with the help of a group of friends. They were able to come share their experiences with the students and also help with carreer guidance for children to stay in school.

At the first donation event with some of the students who received books

DONATIONS

We were able to get donations from various people. MK Book Publishers donated books, World Vision donated over 2000 text books to the cause. Nabisunsa Girls’ School, Bwerangi Gilrs’ schools all donated to the materials to be given to various schools. Pepsi Uganda aslo donated sodas to some of the schools we went to.

Students from Bwerangi Girls school who donated their excess books

Kitabu- Buk Project team receiving a consignment of 2000 text books from World Vision

NEWS PAPER ARTICLE

The leading news paper in Uagnda, New Vision wrote an article about the work we do as Kitabu-Buk project and this inspired many young people to join the NGO and make a change in the lives of children.

FUNDRAISERS

Kitabu- Buk Project carries out different fundraisers, but the most significant ones were the door to door fundraisers where we collected books and also sold various African materials to raise money from people’s homes.

Volunteers at the door to door fundraiser

DONATION EVENTS

Since inception we have impacted the lives of over 2 million Ugandans and we have donated over 100,000 text books and 3000 scholastic materials to 25 schools in the country.

We have donated to the most vulnerable in society which include the deaf and those in war torn areas.