Literature raffle supports Lesotho

Andrea Palframan at the Lit Up! market stand.

Photo by Gary McNutt
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Book lovers should take note of “Lit Up!”  — a community event that uses the power of the written word to educate youngsters in southern Africa.

Drawing on the richness of the Salt Spring literary scene, from its dozens of authors to 45 book clubs, Lit Up! is a fundraising event to pay school fees for needy and deserving students in Lesotho, southern Africa.

Local authors, including Arthur Black, Kathy Page, Ronald Wright and Brian Brett, have generously donated copies of their books to be used as prizes in this summer-long event. Visitors to the Saturday market can enter to win a shelf of over 40 books, including beautiful coffee table books by Robert Bateman, Jana Roerick’s cookbook, a gardening book by Linda Gilkeson, Charles Kahn’s Gulf Islands hiking trails guide, volumes of poetry by George Siphos and Peter Levitt, and more.

“I’m a huge fan of literature, and a locavore,” said co-ordinator Andrea Palframan in a press release. “Here was a chance for me to put these passions to work to serve the youngsters I work with in Africa.”

Together with her partner Gary McNutt, Palframan travels annually to Lesotho, a tiny country within South Africa. She founded a scholarship program in 2006 in response to the dire shortage of skilled professionals, including teachers and nurses, in the country. Partly due to the migration of skilled workers, the shortage is also a tragic consequence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic that has ravaged Lesotho.

“Education is the key to development: it’s the first step out of poverty for families in Africa,” said Palframan. “I’ve seen first-hand how a girl’s life can be transformed: instead of an early marriage and a lifetime of subsistence, they can nurture dreams of becoming teachers, nurses, scientists and social workers. When people have the chance to grow, and give back to their communities, everyone benefits.”

Palframan and McNutt pride themselves on direct, person-to-person exchanges. The couple personally delivers donor funds into the hands of those who need it most.

“Because we run into each other in Thrifty’s, we can tell people how the child they’ve sponsored is doing. And while that may be no solution to the millions of unfortunate tales you read about in the daily news, it’s a solution for that one child,” said McNutt.

“And . . . taking it a bit further . . . it’s a solution for donors, who may be tired of hearing about the mis-use of their charitable money by corrupt governments or inefficient aid agencies,” adds Palframan. “We’ve worked hard to make ours a zero-overhead program, meaning every dollar you give goes right into paying school fees, buying books, buying school uniforms and paying exam fees. It’s a pleasure to tell our supporters what all is being accomplished over there in brightest Africa.”

Since 2006, an average of 35 scholarships have been awarded each year to needy and deserving students in Lesotho. Some have been funded by individual Salt Springers, while others come from grants by Canada’s Glasswaters Foundation. Glasswaters, a registered charity, is able to provide tax receipts for donors who need them.

People can enter the Lit Up contest any Saturday at the market, or contact Palframan by email at andrea_palframan@mac.com for a ticket or book of tickets.

There is no set fee to enter the draw, although a minimum contribution of $5 is suggested. The draw date is Oct. 1 and will take place at the Saturday market.