Clemson collects thousands of books for university in Kenya

Published: June 11, 2012

Clemson educators visit Narok University College after the 2011 drive collected 675 books. image by: Clemson University

By Christina Cleveland

CLEMSON – Clemson University’s College of Health, Education, and Human Development collected more than 4,200 books to give to Narok University College, a partner school in Kenya.

“We’re still getting books,” Dean Larry Allen said. “And we’ve got to stop.”

This was the second book drive Clemson has held for Narok University College. This year’s  the drive lasted two weeks and was five times more successful than last year’s drive. FedEx has volunteered to ship the 225 boxes of books to Nairobi free of charge.

Allen believes the success of this year’s drive was because of increased exposure and eagerness to give.

“Those who were cognizant of it last year, wanted to give more this year. Because we had done it a second time in a row, we got some publicity and acknowledgement,” he said. “And certainly, because it is going to a school in Africa, I think people are motivated to give.”

The college asked that people donate recent books that were published in the year 2000 or later for Narok University College’s library. Its students aren’t able to buy their own textbooks and often have to share them. Because of this year’s drive, they now will have access to several copies of textbooks.

“Their library is extremely limited,” Allen said. “Even last year when we sent 675 books, they were overwhelmed by those books. They were so appreciative.”

Narok University College began a partnership with Clemson in 2010 because of the university’s parks, recreation and tourism department. Its goal is to build a sustainable tourism plan for the Maasai Mara Wildlife Reserve, which is the largest wildlife reserve in Kenya. Clemson is also conducting research and training programs in the Narok district enhancing local teachers skills in environmental education.

 “I want to thank the campus. I really appreciate the students, faculty and staff for giving their books to this cause because we just can’t imagine how important it is to them,” Allen said. “For us to be sending over 4,000 textbooks this year is almost like they died and gone to heaven."

Allen, and park, recreation, tourism, and management chair, Brett Wright; Patricia Layton from the School of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Science; and professors Ken Backman and Sheila Backman will travel to Africa this summer to work with several ministries throughout the country.   

Officials at Narok University College will hold a thank you celebration for the donation.  The Clemson team will be in attendance for the celebration because it coincides with their meeting schedule while in Africa.

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