Raise funds for the Book Bus climbing Mt Toubkal in Morocco

Do you fancy a challenge but don't have the time (or inclination) to scale Everest?

Then consider The Book Bus's charity trek to the summit of North Africa's highest mountain....you'll only have to take two days off work!

The Toubkal trek is an extended mountain walk that lasts 3 days. There will be full support from local staff: tents, backpacks and all expedition equipment will be carried on mules. You will be carrying a daypack whilst walking. Walking days involve 6 to 8 hours on the trail; climate, altitude and remoteness may play a part in the challenge.
Previous trekking experience is not essential but you must have a good level of walking fitness.

The details

22nd September - 25th September

This trek is presented at “cost” of £485.

Each person who joins the trek pledges to raise a minimum of £500 (there is no maximum!) to help fund the Book Buses. You may either pay your own trek cost and then raise £500 as a donation to Book Bus.
Or Charity Commission rules allow you to raise  £485 + £500 in sponsorship, so long as you make it clear to your donors that you are doing so..

For more information - Toubkal Charity Climb

The Book Bus with Lake of Stars

This Sunday - 20th February, The Book Bus will be at Market Club in London town.

Market Club is a new kind of free event for the leading East London Arts Centre that will brighten up your Sundays.

The finest festival team in the world (Lake of Stars) are kicking off the New Year moving their Wednesday night sessions to monthly Sunday celebrations of art, music, film, markets and Olympic sports. Live music comes from rising indie-folk star Sam Sallon plus reggae/dub outfit Scubaroots with DJ sets from Fabric’s Ali B, Jamie A, Kid Blue and Young Offenders.

Sundays in Shoreditch are alive from Brick Lane, Spitalfields and Columbia Rd markets – get indoors with the Market Club’s mini market selling everything from books to music to a sample sale from Fenchurch.

If you find yourself in the eastend of London this Sunday..pop in and say hello!

Market Club
RICH MIX
35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road,
London, E1 6LA

The Book Bus in the Press

Wanderlust magazine journalist Ed Stocker spent 2 weeks on the Book Bus in Ecuador last year. You can read about Ed's experiences in the February issue of Wanderlust available at WH Smiths and other large stationary stores.

The Book Bus in Zambia features in a Guardian article by Sarah Gilbert. Click here to read about her time on board the Book Bus in Livingstone

A tale of understanding from Ecuador

The Book Bus in Píntag

A smile from a child that has been beaten, a smile from a child that has lost 
his mum, a smile from a child that hasn’t had reason to smile in years is what 
the members of the BOOK BUS need to feel good. For a moment a smile from a child 
with dirt in his face and a sparkle of sadness in his eyes might steal a tear 
from the BOOK BUS volunteers. A small school in Píntag, a small town close to 
Valle de los Chillos, was the school that invited the BOOK BUS members to have 
this wonderful experience. Small beautiful smiles to bigger ones were present, 
all ages from 3 to 13, all sitting down with their heads up showing a lot of 
respect and humbleness. Their faces were like carved by the hands of god, they 
had eyes that had a hope and plead of some love. Each member of the BOOK BUS had 
a moment to read and have a pleasant moment with these children. The way how the 
books have a connection with the children is something that no scientist or 
doctor can explain. Their imagination bursts and gives away a dream, monkeys, 
fishes swimming in the dark seas and eagles overflying the clouds in a cold 
winter are some of the images that these children get in their small and curious 
minds.  Juanita Neira the godmother of the BOOK BUS shared this moment with us. 
An activity that incorporated all the students and the BOOK BUS was something 
that showed how a story can be made from our hearts. This experience made us 
open our eyes and see the reality of how many children right next to us need a 
book and also some love to have a smile painted in their faces.

Jaime Andrés Durán (Year 12)
Jaime is a pupil at the British School in Quito which participates in the 
BISEE Book Bus school2school exchange programme in Ecuador

The Book Bus makes a splash in London

The Book Bus mounted a stand at the recent Destinations Travel Exhibition in London's Earls Court. This was our first exposure at this type of event and, because many of the visitors to our stand had never heard about us before, we were able to spread the word to a whole new audience. Accolades ranged from "Wow!" to "best travel event I've seen at the whole show".  Clearly the concept of travelling to support a worthy cause grabs the imagination and we look forward to welcoming some of our show stand visitors onto the Book Bus in the near future.

As ever, it's the efforts of our volunteers who keep the Book Bus wheels turning and we're grateful to those who supported us on the stand during the show.  A big thanks goes to Jean, Vicky, Hillary, Raquel, Glenn, Ellie, Kate and Seth.