Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS A PROJECT LOVE SUDAN KIT?
There are two kinds of ProjectLoveSudan kits: "Kits for Kids" and "Kits for Teachers". The student kits contain a pencil, an eraser, a notebook and a ruler, all sealed in a zipper-closing freezer bag. ProjectLoveSudan kit donors often will write a note to the child who will receive their kit and include it in the bag.
WHAT IS A TEACHER'S KIT?
Kits for teachers should be clearly labelled as such. They can include items such as felt pens, markers, scissors, crayons, chalk, colored paper, pencil sharpeners, old calendar pictures and visual aid such as maps, inflatable globes, flashcards, etc. Which ever type of kit you are making, we would ask you to refrain from including items that are not educational in nature, as this can result in significant duty taxes upon arrival in the destination country.
WHO TAKES PART IN PROJECT LOVE SUDAN?
Individual classes, whole schools, entire school districts/boards, state and local reading parent groups, Rotary International clubs/districts, youth and community groups, such as cubs, scouts, brownies and guides, can participate in ProjectLoveSudan.
HOW DO WE SIGN UP?
Anyone can register by downloading the Project Love Sudan Registration Form and submitting the form by email, fax, or snail mail.
WHO COORDINATES THE PROGRAM?
CODE has a ProjectLoveSudan Program Manager. Each district school board, local or state reading council or Rotary International Clubs/Districts can appoint a District Project Love Sudan Coordinator who liaises with the Project Love Sudan Program Manager to promote and coordinate the program. Each school should also have a ProjectLoveSudan Coordinator who liaises with the District ProjectLoveSudan Coordinator or ProjectLoveSudan Program Manager. The District and School ProjectLoveSudan Coordinators are volunteers. Click here for the list of District Coordinators. (coming soon)
WHAT IS CODE?
CODE is a Canadian charitable organization that promotes literacy and education in the developing world. For almost fifty years, CODE has been helping adults and children learn to read and write through strategic projects with overseas partners.
WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL BOOK BANK (IBB) ?
The International Book Bank (IBB) helps increase literacy and advance education by procuring and shipping books and other educational materials to developing countries. Founded in 1987, the IBB distributes books and educational materials to non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations. The books are chosen from an IBB catalogue and then delivered to schools and libraries in almost 100 developing countries around the world. IBB is an affiliate of CODE. http://www.internationalbookbank.org/
HOW MUCH IS A PROJECT LOVE SUDAN KIT?
Schools, local or state councils, youth of community groups are encouraged to shop around for sales and reasonably priced kit materials, i.e. notebook, pencil, eraser and ruler. Perhaps local businesses or local retailers may even donate school supplies for the ProjectLoveSudan student kits or the Teacher Kits. Groups could purchase materials in bulk or individually. Also groups should purchase sufficient quantities of zipper-closing freezer bags for ProjectLoveSudan kits or collect shoe boxes for the Teacher Kits. A donation of $2.00/kit is requested to help CODE and The International Book Bank cover program expenses including the costs of shipping to Africa and any internal distribution expenses. From this $2.00/kit school, local or state councils, youth of community groups can use a portion of the total amount to ship the boxes to IBB by ground courier. (shipping information - PDF) The balance of the $2.00/kit contribution is sent as a check payable to IBB ProjectLoveSudan and mailed to the International Book Bank, P.O. Box 1662, Baltimore, MD 21203. Do not send the check with or in the boxes.
Download:
Shipping Inventory / Contribution Form - PDF or MS Word
HOW DO WE RAISE MONEY FOR THE SHIPPING CONTRIBUTION?
Before you begin, it might be a good idea to determine and set realistic goals for your class or group. You might want to start by deciding how many kits each individual wants to send overseas. Then you can calculate how much money needs to be raised or donated for the Shipping Contribution, and brainstorm about how to do it. Over the years, CODE has found ProjectLoveSudan participants to be infinitely creative when it comes to raising funds. Activities have ranged from bake sales, to performances, to bottle drives, to students doing extra chores at home. At one school, the principal cut off a piece of his tie each time the total amount raised reached a new level! Whatever approach or activity you decide upon, we're sure you'll find a way to make it meaningful, fun or downright delicious.
WHAT HAPPENS ON PROJECT LOVE SUDAN KIT ASSEMBLY DAY?
There is no set date for ProjectLoveSudan. Whichever date you decide upon, make sure to prepare for your needs and plan out your activities. We do ask that you send your boxes to the warehouse by November 15, 2008. It's probably a good idea to begin collecting large, sturdy boxes in advance so that you can pack your kits for shipping as soon as they have been assembled. You might want to assign one person to fill out the shipping inventory form, another to pack and tape the boxes, and another to photocopy and affix shipping labels. Your class or group might want to spend the morning writing messages to the students who will receive their kits, and the afternoon assembling them. Students can come to a central location and put their kit materials and letter in a zipper-closing freezer bag. Whatever your method or approach, it's best to have a game plan and be prepared.
WE HAVE ASSEMBLED OUR PROJECT LOVE SUDAN KITS AND TEACHER KITS, WHAT NEXT?
Before you seal your boxes, make sure you have counted the number of ProjectLoveSudan kits and Teacher Kits in each and have filled out your Shipping Inventory Form (also can complete online) and the Shipping Label. That way, when distributing the kits locally, the boxes do not have to be opened beforehand and the contents counted.
Please ensure that you pack your ProjectLoveSudan kits in sturdy boxes. Should there be any leftover space in a box, stuff it with crumpled paper so that nothing can move around inside. These boxes have a long way to go - by land and by sea - and will be handled often. Finally, seal your boxes well with strong packing tape and affix a Shipping Label to each.
Download:
Shipping Labels - PDF or MS Word (letter size)
Shipping Inventory / Contribution Form - PDF or MS Word
HOW DO WE SHIP OUR BOXES TO THE INTERNATIONAL BOOK BANK WAREHOUSE?
You may take your boxes to a ground courier company or arrange for a pickup. On the average, each box should contain about 50 ProjectLoveSudan kits and weigh about 20 lbs or less. Photocopy paper boxes measure 18" long, 12" wide and 9" high. Boxes do not have to be shipped by one person. Enlist some volunteers to help you ship boxes over several days or on one day. You can locate your nearest ground courier and calculate the approximate cost of shipping each box here.
HOW IS YOUR PARTICIPATION ACKNOWLEDGED?
A Thank You Pak is mailed to you upon receipt of your Shipping Inventory Form and Shipping Contribution by ProjectLoveSudan. The Thank You Pak contains a receipt, a newsletter containing photographs and stories from the field (please feel free to email your own pictures and stories online - with the Photo Permission Form faxed) and a Certificate of Appreciation.
WILL STUDENTS RECEIVE LETTERS FROM OVERSEAS?
Feedback from recipients often comes in the form of letters and photographs which ProjectLoveSudan receives, which we compile into packages and forward to schools. Occasionally, schools and students may receive letters addressed directly to them. It takes several months before the ProjectLoveSudan kits reach their destinations and for recipients to respond. Understandably, schools in the developing world cannot afford to pay postage to send letters back but it is rewarding for them to receive a letter. To encourage letter writing, perhaps enclose a self-addressed large envelope with writing paper enclosed. When the kits are distributed, the coordinators may encourage students to write letters at that time and may take them to a central location whereupon someone from the United States may be visiting and bring them back to be forwarded to you. Please note: do not be disappointed if you do not receive a letter back. There are many factors prohibiting this from happening such as expense, distance from a post office etc.. ProjectLoveSudan, we stress, is not a Pen Pal program.
CAN WE INVITE LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE?
Yes. ProjectLoveSudan includes a sample generic press release on ProjectLoveSudan for you to adapt and to send to your local media outlets. Why not promote your philanthropy through the media for others to take notice? We appreciate it very much when participants forward their photographs and newspaper clippings of coverage to us.
Download:
Photo Publication Agreement - PDF or MS Word
Media Advisory - Sample Press Release - PDF or MS Word
TO WHAT EXTENT IS PROJECTLOVESUDAN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?
ProjectLoveSudan encourages the purchase of school materials made in local regions of the US so that transportation of such goods have minimal effect on the environment in terms of fuel emissions or fuel use if imported from another country. Also goods made in the US and shipped to a developing country guarantees that the US firms have environmentally safe conditions whereas if the goods were produced overseas those environment regulations may not be in place. ProjectLoveSudan encourages the Reuse and Recycle of boxes in which to ship your ProjectLoveSudan kits. We also encourage our ProjectLoveSudan participants to use our on-line forms saving in paper and trees. ProjectLoveSudan also ships the container of ProjectLoveSudan boxes when the container is full so taking advantage of maximum usage and saving on fuel.