Boys’ book collection has fairytale ending
LITTLE Jason Cope and Alfie Lyons share a passion for books.
And now they will spread their joy of reading to children living thousands of miles away.
The Wythenshawe schoolboys organised friends and family to collect 1,661 books which are being sent to libraries in Cambodia, Mongolia and Sri Lanka.
After hearing about a Facebook appeal for book donations Jason and Alfie persuaded friends at their beaver scout group – together with their mums, dads, teachers and a local hockey club – to help them out.
Jason, seven, and Alfie, six, who are both pupils at Newall Green Primary School in Wythenshawe collected so many books they have now been made young ambassadors for the charity Bookbridge which promotes global educational equality.
Jason’s proud mum Lucy Cope, 35, from Newall Green said: “It’s a brilliant thing for a couple of young boys to do.
“We are very proud of them. They have driven it all and they are setting an example to other children.”
They began collecting after Lucy, who is involved with the 1st Wythenshawe Scout Group, spotted an appeal from the foundation on Facebook.
“Jason saw the post and wanted to get involved,” she said.
“He went upstairs and emptied his book shelf and said he wanted to send his books over. It has been going on ever since and has really taken off. The boys wanted to do it and we just supported them all the way.
“We were putting posts on Facebook and loads of kids brought books into school – it’s been really wonderful.”
The boys’ campaign saw 337 books collected before Christmas and another 1,324 have just been sent off.
“Jason and Alfie wrote letters over to one of the libraries and have received postcards back from the children, thanking them for the books and saying they are really enjoying reading,” Lucy added.
“They are basically helping disadvantaged children to read, which is wonderful.
“Jason loves reading and could not understand why other children would not have that opportunity.
“They were in touch with the charity who have since asked them to be young ambassadors. It’s great to see these young beaver scouts get recognition for the amazing work they have done.”
Starting off as a scout exchange program with Mongolia, Bookbridge has developed into an purposedriven social enterprise.
In the UK it’s run by scouts who collect, sort and dispatch books for the learning centres in the three countries.
Alan Hands, from Bookbridge UK, said: “Alfie and Jason have been amazing ambassadors inspiring others to get involved and donate children’s books. Their enthusiasm and commitment is infectious and they have convinced their friends, family, scout group and local clubs to join them and take action to make a positive impact for other young people around the world.
for details on the appeal email: lucy on lucy.cope@mansouthscouts. org.uk or ukscouts@bookbridge.org.