What Kinds of Books?

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader"

- Margaret Fuller

I was able to speak with Getrude about the kinds of books that would be most helpful to the students. While I am accepting any and all books, the following are the kinds of books she said would be most useful:

• Story books
• Math Books
• English Books
• Science Books
• And other educational material

Also, if you may know of a resource that you think may be able to donate books, please let me know!

Collection Info

I am hoping everyone who reads my blog will be able to donate at least 1 book. It would mean alot to me, but even more so to the students.

So my lack of a car will prevent me from getting the books from people that live far away from where I live (Arlington). But if I find that many people want to give books I can try to arrange a pick up of books once every few weeks.

If you are able to drop off books: woo-whoo!! Books can be dropped off at my office near Porter Square in Cambridge or at my home in Arlington. I am working on a drop off location at Cambridge College for those that attend.

Please, please stay in touch with me at: 500africa@gmail.com and let me know if you have books and I will do my best to take them off your hands!!

Patiently awaiting my first books!!!

Thank you!

More on Getrude's Lecture at Cambridge College

At a young age Getrude Matshe learned to follow her dreams no matter what it took. “All you need to do is dream, and to dream big,” she said her father told her. “Everything you want can become a reality.” On Wednesday, October 8th the AIDS advocate, author and entrepreneur shared her inspiring story of success with a crowd of nearly 100 Cambridge College students and guests on Wednesday, October 8th at the College. This event was part of the Strategies for Success class in the Cambridge College undergraduate program.

“I am here to tell you how people can change the world,” said Matshe, who is trying to create change through her book, Born on the Continent, and her Africa Alive Education Foundation. A native of Zimbabwe, Matshe is trying to raise funds to support 17 million children, an entire generation of AIDS orphaned children, born in Africa. “Poverty is a mindset. It becomes a way of thinking when you are stuck in it generation after generation. The cycle will not break until people learn what it means. Education unlocks minds—it is the only way,” she added. Matshe knows the value of education firsthand; her mother believed that a good education would help her children escape poverty. Matshe and her four siblings are all college graduates. Matshe and her colleagues are trying to break the cycle of poverty in Zimbabwe by teaching the natives how to help themselves. “When you teach people to help themselves, it gives them back their dignity,” she said. And according to Matshe, salvation isn’t impossible. “It’s not going to take much; just a few people to step up in each community.”

Getrude Matshe and Cambridge College Professor Barbara Reid show off
one of Matshe’s hand painted blankets.

Give, Give, Give

Giving is just receiving inside out. When you light another's path, you can't help but to light your own path. Giving is like taking money out of one pocket and putting it into your other pocket. God in his infinite wisdom has made it that way! GIVE GIVE GIVE
-Rev Run

My want, my desire to help Getrude and the children at Mazivisa comes from knowing that all children should have equal access to education. It comes from my own love for my daughter.

Being a Mother has been the most wonderful journey. I would not trade it for nothing. I have joy of experiencing all of her "firsts" and am spoiled by all the love she showers me with. When she is not with me, my heart aches, and as soon as I see her all of my worries just disappear. And I realize that the students at Mazivisa may not have a Mother to tell stories with.

My love for children doesn't end with being a Mother. I am also a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children through the juvenile court in Boston with the Boston CASA program.



When Getrude was speaking I immediately knew that I wanted to collect books for the students. I saw a picture of their library and felt guilty for living in a society that has unlimited resources for books. I felt guilty, but also empowered. Because I have the ability to help.


I look at the stories in my daughter's library. Stories like Goodnight Moon, Guess How Much I Love You, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish have all become part of our family. She'll sing phrases of the book back to me as we read them before bed. And though she loves my made up stories of fairies and castles and chocolate chocolate cake for breakfast, these books are necessary.

So, the least I can do for the students is provide them with books. Books that they'll share with each other and pass on to others. Books that they'll be excited about reading.

I am one person and will need the help of others along this journey. Please contact me for more details.

Mazivisa Students

Below are some photos of students that attend

Mazivisa Primary

.


It takes a villiage to raise a child

Africa 500, please join the cause!!

My name is Alexandra and I have taken on the task of collecting 500 books, yes 500 books to send to a primary school in Zimbabwe.

You may be thinking, why Zimbabwe and why 500 books.

I had the pleasure of meeting a phenomenal woman, Getrude Matshe a few weeks ago at a lecture at my school, Cambridge College. Getrude's journey is remarkable and one of the many great things she has done is create Africa Alive Online: http://www.africaaliveonline.com/. Getrude is originally from Zimbabwe and in her and her husband's family there are over 100 HIV positive people. We have all heard how fast HIV/AIDS is spreading in Africa, but never had I heard a story first hand of the truly devastating effects it has. Getrude told us that the average life expectancy in Zimbabwe is a young 27. Can you believe that? 27! I could not, could not imagine only living until 27. And in Zimbabwe that is the reality.

If you were to visit Zimbabwe there would be children and grannies. People of middle age have died, leaving grandparents to parent young children. Getrude's mission is to help all orphaned HIV positive children in Africa. That's about 17 million children. 17 million children need our help.

She has begun by adopting a preschool in Zimbabwe called Mazivisa Primary School. Mazivisa has a total student population of 350 and 175 of those children are HIV positive.

During Getrude's lecture she shared with us a slide show of the current conditions at the school. The walls were torn, the books, well, many were from the 1950's. Not the type of atmosphere most of us have had our schooling in.

Africa 500 began with a single person and a single person's thought. I thought, wouldn't it be great to provide Mazivisa with a full library full of colorful nice looking books. So that is what I have decided to do. Collect 500 books to send over to Zimbabwe to the children. Because regardless of your race or economic status each child has potential. And it takes so little of yourself to make a huge impact in another child's life.

Please help me in my journey to raise 500 books!!



Thank YOU