Books for Life Blog

Dodge City Bookcase Project

darcypred — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:20:38 +0000

Books for Life is about bringing books to children around the globe to instill the joy of reading. That includes places in the USA when we are able to network with other organizations such as the Dodge City Bookcase Project.

Above is a photo of David and Sheila Grayson of Dodge City, KS and the staff at Trees for Life in Wichita, KS. The Graysons founded the organization called the Dodge City Bookcase Project. The Graysons facilitate the making of bookcases for children in need. The children are given a starter bag of books and a hand-made wooden bookcase with a plaque that has the child’s name on it.

Trees for Life coordinated with Dillons Stores in 2009 with a state-wide Kansas book drive. As a result of that drive, people are still bringing books to the office. We were able to donate books for the Bookcase Project in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Graysons came to Wichita in November, 2011 and loaded their car with 500 books to give a starter set of books for each child when they received their bookcases on November 12, 2011. The Graysons (bottom of step on the left and right sides) are pictured with the books.

The following is an article from the Dodge Globe newspaper that tells more about the Bookcase Project:

October 15, 2011

The gift of reading: Dodge City man helps promote literacy
http://www.dodgeglobe.com/features/x597430480/The-gift-of-reading-Dodge-City-man-helps-promote-literacy

Where there are books, there is reading.

Where there is reading, education happens.

Where education happens, people prosper.

Peace Corps couple help bring books to Santiago, Cape Verde Islands

darcypred — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:51:38 +0000

On a small island, just west of the coast of Africa, two Peace Corps volunteers are providing the opportunity to have books available for primary age children as well as adults.

Santiago (lower center), Cape Verde Islands west of Africa

Adam Kendis and his wife Jen Epstein will spend two years on the island of Santiago. There is a high illiteracy rate in Cape Verde, partly because the people speak “Kriolu” in their everyday life and it is a spoken language only. The language in schools is Portuguese, and students struggle to read and understand very basic sentences in that language.

Adam and Jen will soon be receiving a box of books from Books for Life, which will be useful in working with adults in the community who speak various levels of English as well as introducing the experience of reading for fun to children.

Adam shared an event at their home to emphasize the interest in reading that they are experiencing: ”This past weekend, Jen and I had 30+ people (from the village where we did training) over for lunch. We have a coffee table that we keep stacked with books — books on gardening, picture books about the history of Cape Verde, children’s books and some magazines from the states. From little kids to women in their 60′s, the books were a hit with people looking through them for an average of about 15 minutes per person. Most of our books are in English so people mainly looked at the pictures and tried to read the headlines and captions, but our books in Portuguese were a big hit as well.”

This dedicated couple would also like to get books printed in the “Kriolu” language before they end their term of Peace Corps service in Sept 2013. Perhaps Books for Life can help with that as well!

Where there are books, there is reading.

Where this is reading, education happens.

Where education happens, people prosper.

Trees for Life Alternative Gifts Catalog

Mike Felton — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:03:38 +0000

From: Jeffery Faus – Featured in Alternative Gifts Catalog

Alternative Gifts International enables caring people to give “Books for the Joy of Reading” to children in Nicaragua in honor of a friend or loved one. Read more

Trees for Life is one of only 35 agencies featured in the 2011-2012 Alternative Gifts International catalog. The catalog includes a gift item that enables donors to provide books for children in Nicaragua through Trees for Life. Their online catalog also offers the gift item: Books for the Joy of Reading.

Alternative Gifts International is a non-profit organization that inspires support for humanitarian and environmental causes. They offer donors the option to designate charitable gifts through carefully selected agencies in the name of their relatives, friends and associates.

Trees for Life, through our educational branch Books for Life, has helped people in Nicaragua establish or improve 62 community libraries. People from the community take ownership of the project, providing partial funding, a building, staff, and other resources for their library.

By purchasing the gift of “Books for the Joy of Reading” from the Alternative Gifts International catalog, donors can provide books to children at these Books for Life libraries in Nicaragua in honor of a friend or loved one.

Guitar Distribution Complete

Mike Felton — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:34:39 +0000

Jesus Santiago of Liberia Hispamer - Book for Life – Nicaragua presenting one of the last of the 200 guitars from the Manual Rodriguez classical guitars to the Nicaraguan Librarians. Jesus took great joy in watching the outgoing pride and happiness exhibited by the librarians that represented the libraries in the Libreria Hispamer – Books for Life group. The guitars were a gift to the children of Nicaragua from the Manuel Rodriguez Guitar company and the supporters of Trees for Life.

Coffee – It’s Soldarity

Mike Felton — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:59:21 +0000

On June 6, I wrote about Balbir Mathur and Jesus de Santiago distributing the Manuel Rodriguez guitars to the libraries in the Books for Life – Nicaragua program. Well, there is a second part to that story. When Balbir was preparing to leave Nicaragua his host presented him a very large package of Nicaraguan coffee, one that would take one entire suitcase to carry.

“It is solidarity!” … said Chico Castro with a broad smile, and shook his fist emphatically. “It is not from me. It is from all of us!”

“Please share this coffee with all those who helped provide these guitars. As they enjoy this coffee, they will feel our thanks.

“Tell them, Gracias, amigo. Come and have the next cup of coffee with us in Nicaragua, and we shall sing together.””

This was their response to the wonderful generosity that had brought 200 guitars to the Books for Life Nicaragua libraries. They wanted to give a gift from their hearts and their homes to the wonderful people who had donated to the guitar project. It was their gift of solidarity to people who care.

Upon returning Balbir figured out how to distribute the coffee to the individuals who donated. A local company, The Spice Merchant, ground the coffee and volunteers packaged it and tied Gracias Amigo cards containing the story to the packages. The Board of Directors for Trees for Life was scheduled to meet the following week and a large number of donors were invited to a special lunch afterward. Local donors unable to attend would have their coffee hand delivered by Trees for Life staff and the balance would be mailed. You might think that would be the end of the process but that would not even be close.

The emails, phone and personal responses that we have received over a small package of “solidarity” Nicaraguan coffee have been joyous and heartwarming. We have had responses from Spain to China, from Nicaragua to the US. Locally, the packages have produced joyous hearts, an impromptu guitar session (with one of the guitars) and true tears of joy. We beleave Margaret Mead was right, “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.

Thank You, my friend!

GUITAR DISTRIBUTION A JOYFUL EXPERIENCE

Mike Felton — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:22:31 +0000

“Beautiful, simply beautiful,” were among the excited responses as the first 80 of the two hundred guitars were recently handed out in Managua, Nicaragua. Recipients were actually dancing with joy as Balbir Mathur, President of Trees for Life/Books for Life and Jesus de Santiago of HISPAMER Bookstore, Nicaragua distributed the Manuel Rodriguez classical guitars to the Nicaraguan Librarians. The librarians represented the 53 Books for Life and Books for Life – Nicaragua libraries. Balbir related what a joyful and moving experience the event was for Jesus, himself and all of the participants. The two hundred guitars were a gift to the children of Nicaragua by the Manuel Rodriguez and Sons Guitar makers of Spain.

: Jesus de Santiago with guitar and Balbir Mathur, far right at the presentation ceremony

MUSIC FOR NICARAGUA

Mike Felton — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:22:56 +0000

In 2009 Trees for Life President Balbir Mathur spoke at an international conference Campus of Excellence in Madrid, Spain. This was the third year for the conference which was founded by Jose Calvo, Director, Campus of Excellence. Balbir was presented a with a world-renowned Manuel Rodriguez classical guitar by Manuel Rodriguez, President of the Manuel Rodriguez Guitar Company. The Manuel Rodriguez company has been creating Spanish style guitars for 4 generations. In conversation with Balbir, on behalf of the Manuel Rodriguez Guitar Company, Manuel agreed to donate 200 guitars to the Trees for Life partner libraries in Nicaragua if Trees for Life and Books for Life –Nicaragua would raise funds to cover the shipping and import fees.

Balbir Mathur receiving Manuel Rodriguez guitar

Dedicated TFL volunteers and supporters quickly raised the funds for associated expenses and the guitars were soon on their way. On May 20, Balbir will travel to Nicaragua to participate in the dedication and distribution of the guitars. Representatives from the 53 Books for Life Nicaragua libraries will be on hand when Jesus Santiago, President, Books for Life –Nicaragua and Balbir present the guitars for the benefit of children who now not only have libraries and computers but also the ability to make music.

To learn more about Trees for Life and its programs please join us at Trees for Life.

HEART STRINGS – OVER THE TOP

Mike Felton — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:00:03 +0000

Thanks to you we are over the top.

We have reached our goal of 200 guitars.

Thanks to your generosity the guitars will be delivered to Nicaragua in the next few weeks. Each guitar has a plaque on the inside of the body with the name of the donor. As the guitars are distributed each donor will be notified of the location of their guitar.

We would like to extend special thanks to Ann Garvey and Dulcie Guinty, event coordinators and Josh Jackson of Abode Venues. We would also like to thank the musicians; Jenny Stover-Brown, Henry Harvey Samatha Gales, Adara Clapham Richard Crowson, Phil Burress Karen Crowson Bob & Rudy Love, and Pop & the Boys who so generously donated their time and talent.

TUG THE HEART STRINGS CONCERT

Mike Felton — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:24:50 +0000

Balbir Mathur and Manuel Rodriguez Guitar

Balbir Mathur, President of Trees for Life with the Manuel Rodriguez Guitar that inspired the Heart Strings Guitar project. Balbir received the guitar from the Manuel Rodriguez Guitar company as a gift for speaking at an international conference in Spain. As a result of that award Balbir proposed to “pay the gift forward” and, in cooperation with the Manuel Rodriguez Guitar Company, who offered 200 guitars for cost, a goal of purchasing the guitars for Libraries and therefore the children of Nicaragua was created. The cooperative efforts of numerous donors, participants and musicians at the Tug the Heart Strings concert held on December 26 in Wichita purchased 47 additional guitars toward that dream. The entire order of 200 guitars entirely purchased by donations will begin their journey to Nicaragua very soon.

Jenny Stover-Brown & Henry Harvey
Samatha Gales & Adara Clapham
Richard Crowson, Phil Burress & Karen Crowson
Bob & Rudy Love
Pop & the Boys

Trees for Life would like to thank to the generous support of the Wichita Acoustical Society and the talented musicians for making the Tug the Heart Stings concert a success.

Heartstrings Benefit Concert in Wichita

Mike Felton — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:21:39 +0000

Jeffrey Faus, guitarist, singer, musician, writer and long time Trees for Life and Books for Life staff member appears on KAKE TV as part of the “Heart Strings” Guitar program. In addition to appearing on KAKE TV to promote the Heart Strings program Jeffrey has been instrumental in organizing the “TUG THE HEARTSTRINGS” music event.

Click Image to View Video

Join us at the Tug The Heartstrings event

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 7:00 p.m. til 10 p.m. @ Adobe Venue 1330 E. Douglas