Norwich book fair to support development charity 

The annual Feed the Minds book fair in Norwich is set to run once again at St Andrew’s Church from July 13 to 15 to support a training project in Sierra Leone, continuing a 50-year tradition.

Norwich volunteers led by Waltraud Jarrold, will run the fair at  St Andrew's Church, St Andrew's Street, Norwich  NR2 4AD.  It will run from Thursday July 13 - Saturday July 15 (10am to 4.30pm apart from the Saturday when it is 10am to 3pm with a silent auction at 12 noon).
 
Organiser Jonathan Piesse said: “Funds raised will go first of all towards the promotion of literacy, but extra funds will go to support a project in the Bombali district of Sierra Leone. Local partner organisation, Mankind Activities for Development Accreditation Movement, will provide practical information and communication technology and business skills training to 500 out-of-school young people (400 girls, 100 boys).  Parents will be encouraged to support the training, which will be complemented by work placements and the establishment of trade groups to develop entrepreneurship. 
 
“Feed the Minds is a charity which seeks to improve the material and spiritual lives of communities across the world, through education and the promotion of adult literacy.  It was started by Donald Coggan in autumn 1964, when he was Archbishop of York, as a campaign called 'The Archbishop of York's Fund to Feed the Minds of Millions'.  The intention was to provide Christian and other literature, mainly to developing countries. 
 
“The focus of the charity is now on education in a broader sense, and involves the promotion, through partner organisations, of projects in which learners gain skills with a relevant purpose.  Most of these are in low income places in Majority World countries,” said Jonathan. 
 
Donations of good quality books would be welcome, as would offers of help from willing volunteers.  Books may be taken to the Jarrolds warehouse on Bessemer Road from Monday to Friday between 10am. and 12 noon and from 2pm to 4pm . To offer help or make further enquiries please ring Jonathan on (01603) 744233.    
 
More information can be found on www.feedtheminds.org
 
Picture courtesy of feedtheminds.org