Dawn Geddes learns about the book club that’s helping members to see the world through another’s eyes
Dawn Geddes discovers a book club helping people to learn about the world, while giving something back to those in need.
WHEN we read, we can widen our world view and put ourselves in the shoes of others. But with so much choice out there, how do you go about finding the right book to take you on an empathy-building journey?
Don’t worry, the ShelterBox Book Club has the answer!
“ShelterBox is a disaster relief charity that provides emergency shelter and essential items to people who have lost their homes,” Book Club Co-ordinator Catherine Thornhill explains.
“Two years ago, the charity launched the ShelterBox Book Club, as a way of gaining donations and giving something back to its supporters.”
“People are at the heart of everything we do and it’s the same for our book club. All of our book club choices are inspired by the people that ShelterBox helps.
“We choose books from countries that we’ve worked in or on themes that are related to the people that we support.
“Being part of the club is a great way to learn more about the world, while also giving something back.”
The ShelterBox Book Club costs £10 a month to join. Before each new title is announced, the club asks its members to vote for their next read from a shortlist of character-led titles.
Each member receives the book through the post, then they all get together online six weeks later to discuss their thoughts.
“ShelterBox’s last book choice was the memoir ‘A Woman Of Firsts: The Midwife Who Built A Hospital And Changed The World’ by Edna Adan Ismail,” Catherine says.
“Edna was the first medically trained midwife in Somaliland and has had the most extraordinary life.
“She was born in British Somaliland in 1938, then got a scholarship to go to London to train as a midwife.
“She returned home and got married, becoming
First Lady of the Republic of Somalia. She then travelled the world as a dignitary.
“Edna continued to work as a midwife throughout the revolution, even though she wasn’t paid for about four years.
“She’d always had this dream of building a hospital, so she physically built one, which took twenty-five years!
“Edna’s now eighty-three and she still works as a midwife at the hospital.”
The ShelterBox Book Club features a range of different types of books, including short story collections, novels and non-fiction titles.
Catherine says that the feedback the club receives from its members is incredible.
“One of our members, Sarah, contacted us recently. She said, ‘Every month I am challenged, enthralled and blessed by a book that I would never have picked off the shelf.
“‘From all across the globe, each book has widened my thinking and enriched my relationship with the world.’ It is just so wonderful to get that kind of feedback.”
Catherine says that seeing the world through another person’s eyes is incredibly powerful.
“When you’re reading a book, you get to experience the world from a different point of view. You get an opportunity to inhabit someone else and experience their life.
“That’s really powerful and empathy building.
“Reading news articles about sad and traumatic subjects like war can be hard and heavy going.
“But when I was reading our latest book choice –
‘An Unsafe Haven’ by Nada Awar Jarrar – I was really struck by just how much joy and tranquillity one of the characters experienced as a child growing up in Baghdad.
“I think that that’s a really powerful thing to remember. There’s more to people than the extremely difficult circumstances they face. There is joy and happiness, too.”
You can find out more about the ShelterBox Book Club by visiting www.shelterbox.org,
or calling
0300 0300 500.