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Items We Collect

A cardboard box full of books

This comprehensive list details the items that are desperately needed by African schools.  Take a good look at it as you may be surprised by some of the items we are able to use.

Please also note there are some items listed at the end of this page that we unfortunately aren't able to take.

Textbooks & Reading Books

From pre-school to university level, post 1985

  • Textbooks, particularly maths, science, english, physical geography
  • Dictionaries, encyclopedia, atlases, other reference books
  • General reading up to the age of 18

Stationery

  • Exercise books/notebooks
  • Graph/squared paper
  • Art paper/coloured paper
  • Printer paper/plain paper

Writing Implements

  • Pencils, ballpoint pens
  • Chalk – white and coloured
  • Crayons, colouring pencils
  • Pencil sharpeners, erasers, desktop sharpeners

Maths Equipment

  • Rulers, compasses, protractors
  • Calculators (SOLAR NOT BATTERY)

School Administration

  • A4 pads, files, envelopes
  • Paper hole-punchers
  • Paperclips, staplers & staples

Art

  • Colouring books
  • Paints, paintbrushes, scissors
  • Glue, sticky tape, stamp pads and ink
  • Post-it notes, magnifying glasses
  • Posters

Sewing/Knitting/Craft

  • Needles, thread, material, fabric
  • Hooks and eyes, poppers, zips
  • Knitting needles, crochet hooks
  • Knitting wool, embroidery wool

Pre-school

  • Counters, blocks, beads, puzzles
  • Educational toys and games;ie lego, checkers, chess

Sports Equipment

  • Balls, skipping ropes, hoops
  • Football nets, pumps and puncture kits
  • Netball rings, volleyball nets
  • Cricket bats, stumps and pads
  • Tennis and badminton racquets, nets and balls

Sports Clothing for children and young adults

  • Sports kits, T-shirts and shorts
  • Tracksuits, sports footwear

School Furniture

Please check with School Aid first, and note that school furniture MUST STACK. Stand-alone desks and chairs are too bulky to ship.

  • Desks and tables (stacking)
  • Chairs (stacking)
  • Bookshelves
  • Black and white boards. 

Items we cannot use

  • X Adult novels
  • X Foreign-language books
  • X UK history, economics, geography or sociology books
  • X UK gardening or cookery books
  • X Laboratory equipment (please contact Lab Aid) 
  • X Knitting and sewing machines (please contact Work-Aid)