Formation 1989 Official language English and French Headquarters Cape Town, South Africa | Location Pinelands, Cape Town Founded August 1998 Staff 9 | |
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Type Book Donation Organisation Purpose To make books available to children and adolescents in their own official language, for reading, pleasure and education. Region served South Africa, Belgium, Surinam, Netherlands, France, Flanders, Ghana, Dutch Caribbean Founder Max Vegelin van Claerbergen Motto Give Them Books Open Up Their World Nominations Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award | ||
Biblionef is a book donation non-profit organisation based in several countries Netherlands, South Africa, France, Dutch Caribbean, Flanders, Surinam and Ghana. Biblionef donates new storybooks to under-privileged children and adolescents. The organisation donates books to institutions like schools, day care centres, crèches and other organisations with an educational focus in informal settlements and rural areas.
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Background
Jonkheer Mr.Maximilien Vegelin van Claerbergen, a former Dutch ambassador, initiated Biblionef in 1989 in France. The name Biblionef derives from "biblio" referring to books and "nef" referring to a ship. The organisation's stated objective is to provide children in disadvantaged areas of the world with new storybooks.
Biblionef SA
Biblionef SA is part of an international network of 6 independent non-profit organisations. Due to South Africa's education and literacy problems, a Biblionef depot was opened in the SASNEV Building (4 Central Square, Pinelands, Cape Town) in August 1998. Executive Director, Jean Williams, established Biblionef SA under the auspices of Biblionef's founder, Vegelin van Claerbergen.
The office houses a book stock covering stories in all eleven official languages of South Africa. Biblionef SA operates as an independent, non-profit organization. It is responsible for obtaining and distributing the new storybooks to under privileged children in South Africa. The cost of the books, shipping, warehousing, and administration is covered by funds from foundations, corporations and individuals.
Biblionef Netherlands
The Dutch Biblionef coordinates also Biblionef Ghana, Biblionef Dutch Caribbean and is supportive to Biblionef Surinam and Biblionef South Africa which it also founded. It operates from The Hague. Among the board members are Rein van Charldorp (Chair and Managing Director of OCLC) and Bjorn Stenvers.
Biblionef France
Is the first Biblionef and was founded in 1989. It operates from Paris and supports all French speaking countries.
Biblionef Belgium
The have an office in Flanders
Biblionef differs from many other book donation organisations in 2 key areas: