‘The most wonderful gift’

Earlier this year, we featured the work of Fiona Luth's Fiji Book Drive. She reports back on the remarkable impact the project is having.

Former Independent school English teacher Fiona Luth has just returned from a successful trip to Kadavu, Fiji, for her Fiji Book Drive. She sends this message of thanks to friends and supporters of the project:

The donations are having a far greater effect than I anticipated. Some schools have started book clubs, some open their libraries at 7 am and it is helping with teacher retention and morale.

The donations also have a positive effect on the villagers. The teachers, parents and students could not be any more grateful or thrilled with the donations. One kindergarten teacher cried when she opened the five boxes of supplies and said it was the most wonderful gift she had received in her life.

As many of you are aware, my primary aim in donating books, kindergarten supplies and book bags is to boost literacy. From what the teachers tell me, schools that have had libraries for one or two years have noticed a significant improvement in the students reading, writing and spoken English.

Every school that receives donations fills out a feedback card and many of the comments have been incredibly touching.

On behalf of the teachers, I thank you so much for your support in helping me assist these remote schools.

Looking ahead, next year starting in April, I will be calling for donations of books and kindergarten supplies again.

Vinaka Vakalevu (thank you in abundance in Fijian).

– Fiona Luth

You can read our original article about the Fiji Book Drive here.

If you can assist the Fiji Book Drive, you can contact Fiona at fijibookdrive@hotmail.com

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