1,000 is the goal: Introducing the #1kNewReadersYearly

Reverend Father Ositadimma Amakeze and some 2021 beneficiaries of the #1kNewReadersYearly at Nanka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Have you heard about the #1kNewReadersYearlyCampaign?

#1kNewReadersYearlyCampaign Poster

We’re about to tell you.

Every January, we head a campaign to place books in the hands of 1,000 children in rural communities around Nigeria. Last year, we reached this goal in 52 days and were able to send books to children in communities in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Taraba, and (three orphanage homes in) Lagos States.

Of course, we did not do this alone. We had the help of partners like iServe2050, YOWAMCA, 1402 Book Lounge, BookVille World, Streamsongs Productions, and our bookstore, The Ako Bookstore.

This year, we’re hoping to reach more children, and we’re sure you’re about to ask how to support the campaign. It’s easy. You can send us your old books or donate book bundles here. Here’s the best part. You also get to nominate or pick where you want your donated books sent to. Also, you could help us by spreading the word and sharing posts about it with your network.

Professor Akachi Ezeigbo celebrating World Book Day with members of the Young Readers Book Club, 2021 Beneficiaries of the #1kNewReadersYearly, in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. She is flanked by Barrister Onwe, founder of the book club and another administrator of the book club.

By now you’re probably wondering how we stay accountable to our donors.

Well, a countdown is ongoing on The Ako Bookstore’s Twitter handle, and if you follow the store now and check the pinned post, you would see the names of the donors this year and learn that we have 825 more books to reach our goal for 2022 and have disbursed 125 books this year; 85 to Amawbia in Anambra State, and 20 each to the Special Correctional Centres for Boys and Girls in Lagos State.

We’ll also make a post here when we get to 1,000.

The #1kNewReadersCampaign is a charity project that kicks off every year on the 18th of January, with an annual Inauguration of the Year of Reading event, which is a part of Reverend Father Ositadimma Amakeze’s birthday and priestly anniversary celebrations.

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