African LiteracyInitiative
Millions of children in Africa grow up without books. We're changing that — together, AHSS collected 1,000 books for children in Nigeria — Misssion accomplished. They're now being packaged and prepared for shipment from Maryland to Nigeria through our partner, KTG Shipping International.
What is ALI?
The African
Literacy Initiative
The African Literacy Initiative (ALI) is AHSS's flagship community initiative — a mission to collect and ship 1,000 books to children in Nigeria, directly supporting literacy and educational opportunity within communities connected to our heritage.
Millions of children across Africa grow up without access to books, while thousands remain readily available within our own communities here in Maryland and within the United States. According to NIH researcher Lauren R. Applebaum, the amount a child reads is strongly predictive of later vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and long-term educational and life outcomes.
ALI is more than a service project. It is leadership in action — the coordination, vision and execution of a meaningful initiative, with the power to impact others, cultivate influential partnerships, earn broader recognition, and create a lasting legacy beyond our school community.
Book Drive Progress
We Have Completed
Our Goal
Thank you for helping us reach our goal.
Why It Matters
The Impact
The Plan
How We Do It
Collect the Books ✓
We sourced books from Baltimore's Book Thing, Book Bank, Wootton High School, and our broader community — transforming local surplus into meaningful global educational impact.
Sort & Store ✓
All 1,000 books were gathered, organized, and catalogued by our team, then stored by our partner, Prime Montessori Academy, while we prepare them for shipment.
Ship to Nigeria
In partnership with KTG Shipping International, all 1,000 books will be shipped directly to Nigeria. The entire logistics process is handled by KTG.
Behind the Mission
In Action
Our Partners & Sponsors
Made Possible Together
None of this happens alone. We are grateful to our partners who share our belief that every child deserves access to education.
KTG Shipping International
KTG Shipping is providing comprehensive international transport and logistical support for the African Literacy Initiative, helping ensure the successful delivery of 1,000 books to Nigeria in support of educational access and literacy advancement through global partnership.
Baltimore's Book Thing
A cornerstone of our book drive. Baltimore's Book Thing generously contributed 500 books to the African Literacy Initiative, becoming the initiative's largest literary contributor and helping expand educational access through the power of literacy.
Prime Montessori Academy
Prime Montessori Academy proudly serves as a founding institutional partner of AHSS, providing technological infrastructure, storage support and operational resources that help advance the African Literacy Initiative from vision to impact.
The Research
Why Literacy Changes Everything
How much a child reads is predictive of their later vocabulary, reading comprehension, and even their life outcome.
— Lauren R. Applebaum, NIH ResearcherIn order to ensure the future of our motherland, it is imperative that we resolve the literacy gap. The ALI is our generation's answer — starting with 1,000 books, and growing from there.
Get Involved
Be Part of the Story
Every founding member of ALI is part of something bigger than a school club. Every AHSS initiative has the potential to reach national media, attract future sponsors, and become what AHSS is known for.
Together, this community collected 1,000 books for children in Nigeria — proof of what students can do when they organize with purpose. The books are now packaged and preparing for their journey overseas with KTG Shipping International. Want to be part of what AHSS does next? Join us as we carry this momentum into our future initiatives.