Books in Homes is working hard to identify primary schools in Western and South Western Sydney that would benefit from being on the Books in Homes Program and to raise funds to help make that happen.

Books in Homes Australia is a charitable foundation that provides books-of-choice to children living in remote, disadvantaged and low socio-economic circumstances, ensuring crucial early literacy engagement and the development of reading skills needed for lifelong achievement. Our program aims to overcome the inequality of educational opportunities in communities where access to books for families is limited or non-existent and resources are often scarce. In doing so, our program contributes to helping overcome generational poverty by enhancing the chances of success in early education thereby opening up options, choices and potential in later life. Since 2001, Books in Homes has distributed over 2.8 million new books to children through schools and communities around Australia.

Books in Homes Australia was founded on the realisation that failure in adult life often stems from childhoods spent in homes without books. Children who cannot read, become adults who cannot communicate and this is unacceptable in a world that operates on the written word. Everything we do in life embraces the ability to read and write. Just imagine a life not being able to read street signs, or not being able to use email, or not being able to read medicine and food labels, or be employable.

Having as few as 20 books around the house can significantly impact a child’s future education. The more books added, the greater the benefit!

How will your funds be used?

The Books in Homes team is hoping to fulfil the goal of promoting literacy and reading in the pursuit of a better education to children in the greater western Sydney region. Books in Homes will be promoting the importance of reading to Western and South Western Sydney children, identifying those in need along with the schools in need. Funds raised through this campaign will go directly to these schools for the supply of books-of-choice for the children to keep, take home and build a home library that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to do. Through the supply of these books children can be empowered and encouraged to read by choosing books they would most like to own. Indeed, more than 90% of children want the power of choice and agree that their favourite books are the ones they have picked themselves, and 89% say they are more likely to finish reading books they have picked themselves. If we can help those children to engage in reading then we are well on our way to helping them to a better education.

Here are some examples of how your funds can help:

1 x Book Bag – $2
1 x Book – $7
1 x Primary School Child per term – $28
1 x Primary School Child per year – $82

Books in Homes strives to include deserving schools on our programs.

A primary school of 12 children for instance can be covered for a whole year, including three terms, for as little as $984, where:

Each child in the primary school receives each of the three (3) terms:
3 x new Books-of-Choice with personalised book labels;
1 x personalised sturdy and waterproof book bag; and
1 x Book Catalogue with the opportunity to enter a competition to win more books.

Each participating primary school receives each of the three (3) terms:
A Preview Pack of all 48 books-of-choice available for selection (that's 144 books that are donated to the school library every year!).
Additional Caught Being Good Books and Certificates to use as rewards for deserving children through the year.

80% of all funds raised are dedicated to the purchase of books and materials for the children and organisations in our programs. The remaining 20% of funds raised are used to cover the administration costs of our programs in the pursuit of our goals.

Thank you from Books in Homes for your support and generosity!