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What happened to ... Book Aid

The Observer updated

In November 2005, The Observer launched an appeal to raise money for Book Aid International, a charity that supplies more than half a million books each year to the world's poorest countries. Stories from Kenya, Malawi and the Palestinian territories about the desperate need of children and adults for up to date books inspired 2,250 readers to donate more than £100,000. Sara Harrity, director of the London based charity, said the money would provide 67,000 books to readers in the developing world.

This week will be a landmark in Book Aid International's 52-year history. On Wednesday, Harrity will hand over the 25 millionth book donated by the charity to Dr Philemon Chebon, of the Kenyan National Library Service, at an event in the capital, Nairobi.

'For most of us in the UK, it's impossible for us to imagine a world where there are so few books as in sub-Saharan Africa,' said Harrity. 'Yet we can all understand the huge difference a single book can make to someone's life. Each year Book Aid International sends over half a million books to the developing world, and each book is read by at least five people - by sending over 25 million books, we have made a difference to 125 million people.'

Chebon added: 'Thanks to Book Aid International, each year thousands more children and adults get to experience the simple joy of holding a book in their hands. People in Kenya are incredibly eager to read: some libraries have queues outside before 6 in the morning.'

· To donate to Book Aid International go to www.bookaid.org/cms.cgi/site/donate/