Jambo from Kenya! My name is Laila Wheeler and I am an English teacher in a rural village in Malindi, located on the coastal region of Kenya. I am fundraising to build a library at Tawhiid Muslim Senior School to advance students’ literacy skills and creativity. There are currently no books available at the school, which hinders students’ ability to improve their English language development since Swahili is predominantly spoken. Despite the lack of resources, students are enthusiastic to learn and dedicated to excelling in their education during senior school and beyond.

Many students experience poverty and/or are orphans, primarily relying on sponsorships to fund their education. Students range from 13 to 25 years old (grades 10-12), which is a critical time of self-discovery and expanding one’s worldviews. While bookstores are not common in the small town, students have deeply expressed the desire to engage with literature and gain access to diverse novels that ignite their imagination.

I am committed to curate a library that promotes representation and inspiration. Filled with a wide variety of genres, the library will be composed of African and international literature that students can resonate with.

Each and every donation will be utilized to:

There is no doubt that every child deserves the right to read. In rural Kenya, books are considered a luxury rather than a necessity for academic and personal development. All donations will be deeply appreciated by the students and leave an indelible mark on their academic journeys.

Asante sana (Thank you very much),

Laila Wheeler