Development Ratings

Book Aid International (BAI) was set up as The Ranfurly Library Service by Lady Ranfurly in The Bahamas in 1954. On her return to the UK, she expanded the service to other parts of the developing world. The charity was registered in 1966 and the name was changed to Book Aid International in 1994. The aim of BAI is to advance education and literacy in developing countries and to increase the availability of quality information.

Net secondary enrolment in Uganda is just 15%. The equivalent figures in Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia are 24%, 27% and 28% respectively.

CODE Canada also provides new books and magazines to Africa and the Caribbean. Books for Africa, a US charity, sends books to over 20 countries. Bookpower sells discounted higher education and professional textbooks to African universities. The World Bank Family Network sends over 100,000 second-hand books a year. READ International, a student-led charity, sends surplus UK secondary school textbooks to Tanzania. Several smaller charities in the UK send 10-15,000 donated books a year. These figures compare to the 500,000 high quality books sent annually overseas by Book Aid International.