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In 1986, a group of Educators, led by Mrs. Olga Bone founded an organisation called Education Renewal whose mission was to remedy the falling education standards of children, particularly in English and Mathematics. This group, together with volunteer tutors, gave free remedial classes to children in Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Leonora, Buxton and Enmore.

By the early 90's, Education Renewal was tasked with the responsibility of distributing books which were donated by the Canadian Organisation for Development through Education (CODE) and this led to the formation of the Guyana Book Foundation (GBF) which was established in 1990 as a not-for-profit NGO.

The Foundation's main activity during those early years was the distribution of books to schools, a responsibility taken over from Education Renewal, which was in effect the forerunner of the Guyana Book Foundation. Since then, the Foundation has expanded its programme with a mission to improve children's literacy throughout Guyana, working in collaboration with its partners to provide low cost and no-cost books, reading material and other educational resources and services.

The distribution of books donated through CODE's affiliate the International Book Bank (IBB) to schools, libraries and educational institutions has continued to be one of the main activities of GBF since its formation. IBB provides high quality books which are academic, reference and story books that support education needs and literacy acquisition. These North-American donated books are supplemented by locally produced books written, illustrated and printed by Guyanese and are culturally relevant, gender and language appropriate. Over the years, GBF has distributed more than one and a half million books to over 500 schools and educational institutions which access books every year.

Book donations are also made to schools in the interior regions during Education Month, every year. Schools throughout the country are given an opportunity to build their library stock through a Matching Funds project implemented over 6 weeks during the school year. GBF libraries are stocked with new books every year.

Local books, together with Caribbean Readers provide children with access to diversified, exciting and relevant learning materials. The Foundation has developed, published and distributed over 25 titles which include story books written by well known Guyanese Jan Carew and Walter Rodney; big books and small books for nursery children written by Florence Sukhdeo; copy -writing and grammar books with teacher's guides by Olga Bone and the Steps to Reading series written by Pamela O'Toole.

Some publications have been made by GBF in partnership with other NGOs. These include: The Makushi Language Primer, published by GBF and the Makushi Research Unit for the promotion and revitalization of the Makushi Language; The Lolita and Maria series of health books written especially for the Amerindian communities by a volunteer Peace Corps, Liz Shuster in association with Iworkrama and Peace Corps Guyana, and supported recently by the Ministry of Education EFA/ FTI
(Education for All/ Fast Tract Initiative).

Very early on, GBF recognised that libraries have an important role in the acquisition, maintenance and development of literacy skills. One of its early agreements with CODE emphasised the establishment of Community libraries and the training of library assistants. Since the early nineties, GBF has established over 30 community libraries in 9 regions, with the present responsibility for 21 of these libraries offering access to reading materials that are relevant, stimulating, enjoyable and useful to young readers and community members.

Books and libraries are complemented with training of teachers, librarians, community workers and parents to teach reading to children. Capacity building strategies support our partners like Varqa Foundation with their On Wings of Words programme to teach reading; Red Thread Women's Organisation to teach children from disadvantaged areas, including school drop-outs to read and use the computer to learn to read; untrained nursery teachers in reading readiness and primary and secondary teachers in the teaching of reading and literature.

Partners play an important role in the promotional activities targeting children and their parents in motivating them to read. GBF's National Book Fair which includes twelve partners exhibiting books, is an annual event held alternatively in the Capital and regions outside of Georgetown; book exhibitions, holiday reading camps initiated by the University of Guyana libraries and supported by the Foundation, all contribute to engendering community support.









The Ministry of Education/ Government of Guyana funding through its Education for All / Fast Tract Initiative contracts for books, and support from Guyanese teachers seek to ensure that Guyanese children acquire, maintain and develop literacy skills for life.

In 2007, The Guyana Book Foundation's partnership with CODE was further strengthened when it entered a five year funding agreement, made possible through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Canadian public. This is because CODE believes that:

"When children can read and write, they can learn to do, be anything, and promote change for themselves, their community and their country."

Our Work

Our Mission:

To increase literacy among children in Guyana in collaboration with our partners, through the provision of low cost books and other educational resources and services.

We work with teachers, local NGOs, partners in the state and private sectors and the Ministry of Education Departments in all 10 regions of the country to deliver our programme to empower children to learn.

Our programme supports teacher-training, school and community libraries, local book publishing and the provision and distribution of books and resources to schools and educational institutions.

Our Main offices are located in the capital, Georgetown at:
56 New Garden and Anira Streets, Queenstown

And our Branch office in Region 2, at:
54 Access Road, Cotton Field, Essequibo, Region 2.

Our People

As a community of education partners, we believe that education is the foundation of development; that children are entitled to an education which will equip them to earn a living, lead a healthy and happy life, have a voice in the affairs of their community and help build a peaceful and developing nation.

Guyana Book Foundation Staff

Desiree Wills, Administrative and Book Distribution Supervisor
Cecil Maxwell, Book Distribution clerk
Sylvester Francois, Book Distribution clerk
Deborah Skeete, Secretary
Parmeswar Lall, Branch Manager, Region 2
Leila Jagdeo, General Manager/ Secretary to Board

Board of Directors

Mrs Evelyn Hamilton, AA, CHAIR
Dr. Leslie Chin, AA
Brigadier (ret) David Granger, MSS
Mrs Ameena Gafoor
Mrs Savitri Balbahadur
Mr Ramsay Ali
Ms Jean La Rose

Our Partners

CODE
Varqa Foundation
Red Thread Women's Organisation
Ministry of Education
UG Library (Turkeyen and Berbice)
The National Library
NCERD (National Centre for Educational Resource Development)
Austin's Book Store
Universal Book Store
Michael Forde Book Store
Free Press
F&H Printers
Guysuco (Guyana Sugar Corporation)
GMTCS (Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society)
IPED (Institute for Private Enterprise Development)
US Peace Corp Guyana
VSO