Logistics

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.

We just received our third corporate donation of reading glasses, and it's from a very unusual eyewear company. Equation, LLC refurbishes recycled eyewear to like new conditions, in order to provide affordable eyewear to the world while helping the environment.

What better way to encourage reading than with the gift of colorful, cheerful, fun reading glasses? Especially in the Darfur refugee camps of eastern Chad, where hope needs a helping hand, adding to the enjoyment of reading can yield big returns in education and mental health. That's why the Book Wish Foundation was so excited to receive 126 pairs of Peepers Fun Reading Glasses, in dozens of colors and styles, like these:

The educational dreams of hundreds of refugees from Darfur came one step closer to reality on May 14, 2008. In Oxford, England, at the headquarters of renowned publisher Oxford University Press, Book Wish Foundation's UK-based partner CORD received the first group of Headway English language learning books destined for refugee camps in eastern Chad. Headway's publishing manager, Judith King, participated in the handover.

For Eyes Optical, a retail optical company with over 140 stores in the United States, has responded in a big way to our call for reading glasses for Darfur refugees and villagers in eastern Chad. Reading glasses are a critical component of our reading relief package, enabling more people to derive educational, occupational, and mental health benefits from the books we provide. How many more?

We are excited to announce that the Book Wish Foundation has just ordered 269 Headway English books for our Chad/Darfur project, using funds donated by the public. Stay tuned as we chronicle their journey to and use in the refugee camps in Chad, where learning English is viewed as a "road to freedom."

In this second special report about education in Bredjing Camp, Chad, our on-the-ground partner Anne Goddard of CORD explores the self-study groups by which refugee teachers aim to improve themselves and provide a better education for their students. They are dreaming big, putting their hopes for the future in education. Your donations will help make their dreams come true.

The following special report from our on-the-ground partner Anne Goddard of CORD tells the story of Darfurian refugee Abdel Razik Mohamed, pre-school teacher and English student in Bredjing Camp, Chad. By sharing his experience, we hope to convey the refugees' yearning for education. Please donate to support Abdel Razik, his students, and fellow teachers.