Happy New Year from all of us here at New We Need Books!
What a year we had! In 2022, our membership and cataloguing development continued full speed and we are now at 300 members and 5568 catalogued books. Approximately 1,500 children and 3,000 adults visited the library, and more than 1/3 participated in our educational programs, like our afterschool tutoring program for elementary school students, community outreach activities, art, culture and wellness workshops programs.
In December, we participated in GlobalGiving's Giving Tuesday campaign and thanks to your support managed to raise $1,934. Your generosity is making it possible for us to offer library memberships to 102 members of our community who are facing economic hardship throughout 2023.
All our programs and activities are dear to us and close to our hearts but in this report, we would like to single out one and tell you about our Teen Book Club. The Club was organised and run by Gabbie, a classics student who volunteered with We Need Books through the organisation College Year in Athens. We were surprised. by how effortlessly the Club was formed and we were amazed by the commitment and zest its members demonstrated. Luis, Sneha, Favour and Melia, each from different cultural backgrounds, met with Gabbie for three months to read and discuss Harry Potter. Not only did none of the kids ever missed a meeting, but at the end of the discussion about the book, they would engage in conversation with Gabbie, who is only a few years their senior, and ask about her life in Illinois, her experience as a foreign student in Athens, her plans about the future. What started out as a Teen Book Club evolved into mentoring sessions with kids from the neighbourhood, who had the opportunity broaden their horizons and start dreaming for themselves a different future and more fulfilling lives. Even though Gabbie has now gone back to the U.S., the Teen Book Club will continue with a new volunteer!
We are filled with great hope for the year ahead. Imagine what we can accomplish in 2023 knowing that we have you on our side. Support new beginnings for determined immigrant and refugee boys and girls by sponsoring our programs, strengthen our mission, and expand our reach.
With Gratitude,
Margarita Sianou & Ioanna Nisyriou
International relations Managing Director
& donor development & cofounder
