Help Put Zimbabwean Books Back into the Allan Wilson School Library
A four-week alumni campaign to give today’s pupils access to contemporary Zimbabwean and African literature.
Allan Wilson alumni and supporters around the world are coming together to fund 120 books for the school library: two copies of each of 60 titles. The collection will introduce pupils to stories, poetry and ideas that reflect Zimbabwe, Africa and the wider world.
The campaign closes on 16 October. Every contribution will help us move closer to our £1,500 target.
Why This Campaign Matters
For many Allan Wilson alumni, the library helped create a lifelong relationship with books.
Today, access to books—particularly contemporary Zimbabwean and African literature—is much more limited. Pupils should be able to encounter stories that reflect their country, their communities and their experiences.
Carnelian Heart Publishing is a UK-based publisher with Zimbabwean roots. Since our founding in 2020, we have brought a constant stream of new Zimbabwean literature to the market and published the largest wave of first-time Zimbabwean authors in a generation.
Through this campaign, Allan Wilson alumni can help place a collection of these books in the school library and pass the gift of reading to a new generation. Contributions will close on 16 October, after which we will confirm the final amount raised, the number of books funded and the delivery timetable.
Books That Reflect Who We Are
The Allan Wilson collection will bring together fiction, poetry, short stories and other writing by Zimbabwean and African authors.
The books shown below illustrate the type of Zimbabwean literature that Carnelian Heart will contribute to the collection.
Explore our complete catalogue of Zimbabwean and African literature, including fiction, poetry, memoir, children’s books and more.
Help Us Reach £1,500
Together, we can deliver two copies of each of 60 Zimbabwean and African titles to the Allan Wilson School Library.
Two copies of each of 60 Zimbabwean and African titles
Choose Your Contribution
Every contribution takes the campaign closer to placing a new collection of Zimbabwean and African literature in the Allan Wilson School Library.
Select an amount below. You will be taken to your basket to review your contribution before completing the secure checkout.
What Your Contribution Will Fund
The campaign will provide the Allan Wilson School Library with:
- Two copies of each of 60 titles
- 120 new books in total
- Fiction, poetry, short stories and other literature by Zimbabwean and African authors
- Packing, shipping and delivery to the school
The books are being supplied at an average wholesale price of US$15 per copy, including shipping and delivery.
Any funds raised above the target will be used to provide additional books for the Allan Wilson School Library. When the campaign closes, Carnelian Heart Publishing will publish the final amount raised, the number of books funded and the planned delivery timetable. Delivery confirmation and photographs will be shared through this page and the Allan Wilson alumni network.
Questions About the Campaign
Which books will the school receive?
The collection will contain two copies of each of 60 titles published by Carnelian Heart Publishing. It will include fiction, poetry, short stories and other writing by Zimbabwean and African authors.
How was the £1,500 target calculated?
The collection comprises 120 books at an average wholesale price of US$15 per copy, including packing, shipping and delivery to the school. The target also provides a reasonable allowance for administrative charges and exchange-rate movement.
What happens if the target is exceeded?
Any funds raised above the target will be used to provide additional books for the Allan Wilson School Library or support the next phase of the school reading programme.
What happens if the campaign does not reach its target?
Carnelian Heart Publishing and the Allan Wilson alumni campaign team will review the amount raised by the closing date and agree an appropriately sized collection. Contributors will be updated before the books are dispatched.
How will contributors know that the books arrived?
Campaign updates will be published on this page and shared through the Allan Wilson alumni network. These will include dispatch information, confirmation of delivery and photographs of the books at the school where appropriate.
Can Gift Aid be claimed?
No. Carnelian Heart Publishing is a publishing company and the campaign is not currently being operated through a registered charity. Contributions are therefore not eligible for Gift Aid.