Chad/Darfur

June 26 was a day for celebration in the Bredjing Refugee Camp in eastern Chad, as the Book Wish Foundation's first shipment of books from the Headway English course arrived. Despite serious security incidents in the area, which had paralyzed transportation, our partners on the ground, CORD, safely delivered the 269 books to the grateful Darfuris, who place so much hope in learning English.

PRVAIL (Partners in Restoring Vision and Improving Lives), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit specializing in supplying reading glasses for other groups' vision care programs, has given the Book Wish Foundation 302 pairs of reading glasses to send to Darfur refugees and villagers in eastern Chad. This is the largest donation of reading glasses we have received, and significantly advances our reading relief mission.

Yes, you read the title right, 278 pairs of reading glasses! Smart Eyes, LLC is the company that has just supplied more than half the needs of a refugee camp, with the largest donation of reading glasses so far to our Chad/Darfur project.

What's particularly impressive about this donation is that Smart Eyes isn't a giant optical chain, it's a home-based business with a giant heart.

Despite an uncertain and deteriorating security situation, with Chadian troops passing through their base of operations in Hadjer Hadid, our on-the-ground partner Anne Goddard (CORD) and her team managed to celebrate the Day of the African Child (June 16) with Darfur refugees in Treguine and Bredjing Camps, and villagers from the surrounding communities. Their determination to secure a future for the children through education, amidst the crisis, is an inspiration. Please help them by donating to provide books for the refugees' English classes.

ClearVision Optical, one of the world's leading wholesale distributors of prescription eyewear and sunwear, has donated 100 designer cases to protect reading glasses being sent to Darfur refugee camps and villages in eastern Chad. By keeping the glasses in good reading condition, this donation will result in many additional hours of education and enjoyment.

We receive many donated reading glasses without cases, and have been concerned about protecting them from the harsh desert environment into which they are headed. Astucci, a company that produces custom optical cases, heard our concern and has responded in a very big way.

Davis Vision, one of America's leading managed vision and eyecare providers, has just donated 51 pairs of reading glasses for Darfur refugees and villagers in eastern Chad. Book Wish Foundation is delighted to have such a big name in the eyecare industry supporting our reading relief project.

Book Wish Foundation is proud to count Hilco among the sponsors of our project providing reading relief for Darfur refugees and villagers in eastern Chad. Hilco, a leading supplier of eyewear and optical supplies in the U.S. and U.K., has generously donated 130 pairs of reading glasses, with cases.

The first shipment of Headway English Language books for the Darfur refugees in Chad leave London's Heathrow Airport. Pictured are Brian Godfrey of Air France, and his team of handlers, who ensured a speedy delivery to the Chadian capital N'Djamena, via Paris.