Teens collects 3,500+ textbooks for students in Africa

More than 3,500 textbooks were recently collected by a club at Darien High dedicated to helping young people in Africa.

The Unite for Africa Club at Darien High School has been advocating and fundraising for marginalized youth in Tanzania for more than 10 years. Students, faculty, and people in the community have recently come together to facilitate a book drive to benefit people who are marginalized and lack resources in Sub Saharan Africa.

The club focuses on education to empower lasting change. This is the club's first book drive, a recommendation by Anne Wells, founder of Unite the World with Africa Foundation, who has dedicated more than 24 years in service to empowering and uplifting marginalized communities in Tanzania.

In total, 3,550 books were packed and loaded last weekend. They will be shipped to children in need in Sub Saharan countries.

The efforts included a donation rally, various car trips to sort and pack, donations of his expenses and services, from Frank Futie, of Rented Truck Driver, and a bake sale sponsored by Vavala’s Deli.

“The Unite for Africa Club is truly humbled by the effort of so many people who came together to facilitate this effort,” the club said in a statement.