Today is International Book Giving Day 2013!

 

This year we are participating in International book giving day by distributing books to children staying at the El Ketter Hospital in Algiers.

The day is all about getting books into as many hands as possible, a family member, stranger, local group, friend or charitable organisation it can be whoever you wish.

Along with distributing books to sick children we are also collecting them for our travelling library project: we are just 77 away from our target of 1,000! So if you are looking for someone to gift a book to then, look no further- we would love to have it! Our Amazon wish list can be found here or you can send new or gently used books to the usual address.

 

We also need to buy some shelving for the library so, to help with our fundraising efforts we are selling some original ‘one of a kind’ bookmarks that have been made from vintage books. There are only 100 available, they are priced at 50p each with an additional 50p (for however many bought) for uk postage and £1 (for however many you buy) for the rest of the world.  There are two styles to choose from but obviously the  image / wording on each will be different. You can buy by sending a cheque/postal order made payable to Algerian Action or via paypal using the email algerianaction@london.com Please remember to include details of how many you want and if you would like style 1 or 2.

Style #1

Style #2

 

So really all that’s left to say is: Have a great day!

Just a week to go!

As  mentioned before,  Algerian Action will be participating in this year’s International Book Giving Day. For full details of the event take a look at their website where they have loads of info and a few snazzy book plates which are free to download.

We  will be joining in and spreading our love of books by distributing Book packs to children in El Katter Hospital (Algiers). Each pack includes a reading book, a colouring book, stickers and crayons.

To raise funds for our Travelling Library project we will also, FOR ONE DAY ONLY, be selling some unique, one of a kind bookmarks made from vintage books.

Lastly, we will be encouraging our supporters to donate books to our Travelling library. At the start of the year we had a target of 1000 books and after just a few short weeks we have almost reached it. We have just 124 more to collect- wouldn’t it be great if we could do that on International Book giving day. All books that are new or gently used are very welcome, we even have an Amazon wish list to make things easy!

Thank you so much for your support-hope to see you here in a weeks time!

A year in review

If everyone in the UK donated just £1 each over £62 million would be raised. Imagine how may water wells that could build in Ethiopia, how many people it could feed in Liberia, how many cataract operations it would fund in India or indeed how many blankets it could provide to the many thousands of homeless people living on the streets of the UK itself ………

Okay, I know that is not going to happen but, my point is that collectively even the smallest  individual gestures made by a group of people can make a big difference to people in need. That if everyone pulls together things can happen and do happen.

Do you remember Abdel Kader? we bought him a wheelchair back in March. Through your donations of glasses we were also able to help 123 people with their sight problems.

Do you remember Abdullah Salim? In October we were able to contribute to his medical fees. We also bought medicine for over 200 people who were unable to pay the costs themselves.

 

Through our baby pack project we have been able to  provide hundreds of mothers with clothing for their newborns.

Plus items donated to our Eid Appeal enabled us to give gifts, sweets and new clothes to 762 children in the summer.

We have been able to provide food  to children and families in need and distribute thousands of items of clothing.

 

All of these people have been assisted by money raised through our fundraising efforts: Our spring fair, attending events, individual donations and the sale of our cookery book. They have been helped because the general public have been supportive and donated a huge amount of clothing, toiletries, toys and other essentials and of course not forgetting all those that generously donate their time.

Collectively we have made a difference: through our gestures we have made the lives of some of those experiencing the effects of poverty a little bit easier. So thank you, thank you all for your enormous generosity and for caring enough to want to help .

There is still a long way to go and so much more that can be done. So, I really hope I can count on your continued support throughout 2013!

Some exciting things are planned but, more on that in my next post.

 

 

Book Appeal

 

 

As I mentioned in a post last week, next year we will be operating a children’s travelling library in Algiers. We will be visiting children in hospitals, orphanages, schools and other community venues and giving them the opportunity to enjoy books that they would otherwise not have access to. We will  be holding storytelling and craft sessions too.

However, before we can open the doors we need to fill the shelves, and for that we really need your help!

Will you help us reach our target of 1000 books?

Books can be new or gently used. They must be suitable for children aged 0-14 years (not textbooks) and can be written in English or Arabic.  All titles are very welcome.

If you are able to help by donating a book the address to send donations to can be found here. In any case please spread the word and help us to  bring a travelling library to children in Algiers!

Huge thanks to  those people who  have already kick started  the appeal by sending books in.

 

Winter warmers shipment

Around the middle of November I put an appeal out for people to send in warm winter clothing that could be sent and distributed to needy children in Algiers. Do you remember?

The items needed to be shipped before the coldest weather started so, the last day for getting things in was today.

Well, what can I say? In just a few weeks, thanks to your generosity and a team effort we have managed to collect 837 coats, cardigans, jumpers and jeans plus a few bags full of socks and gloves. THANK YOU, thank you so much! in such a short space of time it’s just fantastic!

I know you all like to look at what’s been coming in so below are just a few pictures of some of the things that were donated in the last week or so (not all for the winter warmer shipment though!)

As always, thank you for your tremendous support.

Have a great weekend!

Emma x

12 hours to go!

All of our hand crafted items have now been listed and there is just 12 hours until the Auction ends!

Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed so far  by donating the items , by bidding in the Auction and by spreading the word.

There is still time to participate though. Still time to place a bid. Still time to help Youcef get the medical treatment he needs.  Seriously, every penny really makes a difference.

If the items listed here don’t take your fancy there is also this gorgeous teal coloured purse being Auctioned here which is open to international bidders.

For those living in Jeddah there is also this super cute turtle up for grabs from the same blog.

Happy bidding and thanks again!

February

February was a busy month for Algerian Action…….The weather in Algeria was particularly cold and for the first time in several years Algiers was covered in snow which meant times were even harder for those in need, happily people had been so generous with winter clothing donations that we were able to assist many families with blankets, warm jumpers and coats just in time for the cold snap.

Lots more fabulous donations arrived in February including jumpers,blankets,hats, toys,bootees and some brilliant summer dresses- but more about those in my next post! Below is just a small selection of what arrived, unfortunately time does not permit me to take pics of everything but be assured that every single item that is donate is much appreciated.

Beautiful Algeria

I’m often writing about the desperate situations that children and families in Algiers are living in, but today I just wanted to take a moment to celebrate the beauty of the city.

Algeria is a beautiful country bursting with historic monuments, fabulous architecture and breath-taking natural beauty. Algerian Action currently only assists families living in Algiers but I think I may share some images of other areas- the Sahara for one is outstanding!

Have a happy Friday everyone and a fantastic weekend whatever you get up to!

Progress

 

From a tumbled down shack to a real building, the building project is now really taking shape. The walls are built the rooms are made just plastering, painting and finishing touches to be done.

 

Family in need *update*

For the regular followers and supporters you must remember the posts about the family in need and the campaign to raise funds to help build them a clean, safe and dry home. Thanks to your extreme generosity the target was met and work was due to begin in late May. However, the builder who originally gave the quote and agreed to do the work decided that he was in fact unable to take the job on. So, the search started to find a competent worker willing to take on the task, many were apparently not really interested as to some the project was not big enough, others would not commit to completing it and others were not skilled in this particular type of work.  But now, after many months a suitable builder has been found and the work has begun!

I have seen where the family live myself and the shack is situated in front of a very steep slope. To make the home larger the slope must be cut into and the clay earth removed.  With the shack being one in a row and houses at the back this can only be done by hand as even if a machine was available it would be impossible to get it into the space. Not an easy job by anyone’s standards!

  Once finished it is hoped that in addition to the current one room there will be a bedroom, a toilet and shower and a proper kitchen for the family.

Everything in Algeria takes time and an abundance of patience is needed at all times. Now that work has actually started just maybe this family, after several years of living in terrible conditions will get to experience a Winter at home without the wind howling through a fabric ‘wall’ and rain pouring from a leaking roof.

Sincere thanks to all of those who contributed.