In the global refugee crisis, writes Harry Boughton, millions of young people are in need of books, and publishers can help
Around the world, millions of children's only experience of reading comes from a textbook which they must share with their classmates. Regular reading has been shown conclusively to help children do better in school, develop empathy and be more confident - so the benefits of reading follow children throughout their lives.
That is why at Book Aid International we work to give all people - and especially children facing the greatest barriers to reading and learning - access to inspiring and rich book collections. Every year we provide over one million brand new books to schools, libraries, refugee camps, prisons and hospitals worldwide. Two thirds of those books are for children, and they are all donated to us by UK publishers.
Over 160 publishers support us by donating brand new books which our partners tell us again and again are a lifeline for people who would otherwise have few or no chances to read. With publishers' support we are determined to offer the opportunity to read to many more children and young people in the years to come - particularly when war devastates lives.
A global displacement crisis
There are 13 million young refugees around the world seeking shelter - more than at any other time since the Second World War - and new conflicts, including in Ukraine, mean that number grows every day. These children are traumatised, vulnerable and at risk of missing out on school.
Most will remain far from home for at least five years, so it is vital that their education continues while they are displaced and that they have the opportunity to enjoy reading stories of hope to help them look to a brighter future. These children come from all kinds of backgrounds, so their book needs are diverse, but they all benefit from having access to a collection of relevant, up to date books.
With publishers' support, we are able to work with partners in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Greece and Lebanon to offer children fleeing war the opportunity to read. Each partner requests the books that its refugee community needs, and we then send books selected to suit their requests. Last year, the books we provided reached 15 refugee camps and many other schools, libraries and reading spaces supporting displaced families.
We are also in conversation with organisations supporting refugees fleeing Ukraine to see if the books we can provide can help - and we stand ready to send them if they can.
Books to offer hope and education
In Uganda, we are working with our partners to provide books to support children who have fled war in South Sudan and are sheltering in refugee settlements in northern Uganda. Those books help children learn English so that they can succeed in Uganda's English language education system and enrich safe spaces which offer children a place to play and simply enjoy being children.
These books are playing an important role in helping children begin to reintegrate into a more settled community, as Ugandan NGO staff member Jocknus explains: "Before they came to Uganda these children were in South Sudan, where during the war they may have seen their parents killed in their presence. They may have seen a lot of things that traumatise them. Many walked to Uganda. It's difficult for them, but the books have stories that relate to the problems that they have. Books help restore hope and help them to interact with other children, bringing them together to learn, play, share with others and be friendly."
For older children and teens in particular, having access to a range of books is essential to helping them pursue their ambitions. Justin is a 17-year-old living in Kakuma Refugee Camp, and he told us how reading a variety of books is helping him achieve his dreams: "I love education because in future I want to change my life. I want to be a lawyer because in South Sudan, the place where I come from, people don't follow the rules. I love reading. Especially, I love reading history. I do read a lot of novels too, to improve my vocabulary and make my career bright. If I had no access to books life would be very bad."
Looking to the future
Our vision is a world where no one is without books, and each book that we provide moves us closer to that vision. But we know there is much more to do. In the years ahead, we are determined to reach out to more people fleeing war throughout and beyond Africa, as well as focusing on other communities where people all too often lack the opportunity to read.
It will be a challenge no doubt - and one we cannot tackle alone. We rely on publishers to donate the brand-new books that we provide, and it is only through this vital support that we can keep creating access to books where it is needed most.
We are always seeking new publisher partners who can donate books of all types. If you have books that you would like to donate to us please get in touch.
Photo: young people reading in one of the world's largest refugee camps, in Uganda.
Harry Boughton is head of operations at Book Aid International. To start a conversation about becoming a publisher partner, please contact him at Harry.Boughton@bookaid.org. To learn more, visit bookaid.org.