Grades 6–8 • Jackson, New Jersey
African Library Project
Goetz Middle School students combat growing illiteracy in Africa with their annual African Library Project aimed at collecting books for a school library in Botwana. The Character Education Committee spearheads this program, as students and staff join in the effort to share their resources with those in need. Teachers bring life to the service project by providing learning opportunities for students in class and making curricular connections to the project. The Drama Club performs in a traveling show throughout the district, requesting books for the library project as the price of admission. Other members of the school community coordinate fundraisers to pay shipping costs. Students at all grade levels work together to collect, sort, and mail the collected books to their sister school in Africa. The fact that illiteracy is a barrier to economic development in African countries is clear to the students, and by working together on this issue, they learn the responsibility and compassion required for reaching out to those in our global community.
http://goetz.jacksonsd.org/home.aspx