From Kenya to the U.S.: How Books and Letters Are Bridging Continents

“When I was young, I didn’t have access to books. Now I’m making sure every child does.” — Evelyn Mwandia, Executive Director, Start a Library Trust In this heartfelt video, we hear from Evelyn, the Executive Director of Start a Library Trust, a nonprofit in Kenya that’s partnering with Amsha Africa Foundation to connect children in Kenya and the U.S. through a powerful Penpal Program. Evelyn shares her deeply personal story, the challenges of building a reading culture in Kenya, and her big vision: to turn two distant continents into one small village—through letters, books, and shared dreams. ✨ What’s inside this video: The mission behind Start a Library Trust How letter-writing builds literacy, empathy, and creativity The impact of the “Dear Penpal” program and Kusoma bags A vision for cross-cultural friendships and global connection This is more than a penpal project. It’s a movement.