The SHARE Story

The SHARE motto is: Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.  View “Sharing Hope”, a short documnetary on the history of SHARE. 

It started in May of 2008......

The McNamara family had volunteered in developing countries for several summers, primarily teaching English to schoolchildren in Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and China. While planning a service trip to Africa, Shannon, then 15, learned about the “book famine” and was moved because she is an avid reader with many books. Determined to help, Shannon reached out to an Tanzanian NGO, and found that addressing the gender inequalities that exist in rural Africa would be a worthy project.

Girls who attend primary school in Tanzania struggle to become literate. While boys are encouraged to study or play, girls are expected to perform household tasks, such as collecting water, planting beans, washing clothes in the streams, and caring for their siblings, instead of pursuing their education. Without education, a girl’s only option is to marry early, and this bleak life continues.

Inspired to help girls her age become educated, Shannon founded SHARE, SHannon’s After-school Reading Exchange.

SHARE began through the generous support of neighbors, family, and friends, who responded to the hundreds of flyers requesting the donation of children’s books, school supplies, and used laptop computers. Shannon and her friends collected, labeled, sorted, and boxed 500 pounds of learning materials. The McNamaras brought all of these donations on the plane to Tanzania in July 2008.

A derelict room was made available by Kiteyagwa Primary, a school with no electricity, no running water, and no books. Volunteers from Global Citizens Network helped sand, paint, repair, and equip the SHARE room. Shannon hired local carpenters to build a 6X6-foot bookshelf, fit glass into the windows, install a secure door, and make signs.

The most significant obstacle and unexpected challenge was trying to convince the mothers to let their daughters join SHARE! Three parent meetings were held to introduce the SHARE program with Headmistress Miss Justina translating. She then spoke passionately about the virtues of educating girls. While most mothers finally gave their permission and signed the form, several declined, preferring their daughters to work at home or in the fields instead.

With the help of Madam Tabitha, now a SHARE teacher, Shannon taught the first SHARE program to 23 bright girls. She introduced the rules for handling texts because the girls had never seen so many books in their lives. The SHARE girls were so motivated that even after two hours of instruction, they rejected an offer of a play break, preferring instead to continue with their studies! 

Before Shannon left to come back home, Miss Justina, the headmistress of the school, locked eyes with her and said, “Don’t forget us”. Those three words haunted Shannon and motivated her to try and improve these girls’ lives.

SHARE Team in the USA

In America the SHARE team is busy trying to spread awareness of the needs of the impoverished African school girls, hoping that it leads to funding to sustain and grow the SHARE program. Shannon has spoken about SHARE to over 5000 people at conferences, schools, conventions, scout troop meetings, churches, community organizations, and volunteer functions, in New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylania, Washington, DC, and Tanzania.

SHARE is being recognized in the local and national press through media coverage and awards for our work. Some highlights have included television and radio interviews.  

Once people learn that most SHARE parents earn only $2 dollars a day and that the concept of a school library is non-existent in rural Tanzania, they become inspired to help! Over the past three years SHARE has recruited 1000 volunteers to dedicated thousands of hours organizing fundraising events and managing school supply and book drives.

For example, in 2009, Shannon hosted monthly “Packing Parties”, inviting her high school friends to her house for pizza, music, and service. Together they sort, label, and pack the newly-donated materials into boxes while having fun at the same time.

SHARE is expanding in the rural villages in Tanzania in East Africa. Shannon and her family returned back to Africa in the summers of 2009 and 2010 and offically opened additional SHARE libraries. 

The SHARE libraries are stocked with a total of 23,000 new and gently used children’s books, school textbooks, and dictionaries, and thousands of school supplies, such as paper, pens, pencils, markers, scissors, and solar calculators. Before SHARE there were only two textbooks per classroom and no reading books.

The libraries are used by over 3,500 students, ages 6-19, and 65 teachers. The SHARE after-school programs are especially designed for girls, ages 10-17. The SHARE girls meet in the new libraries, which are safe and secure, every day after school and on Saturday mornings.  Many are becoming better readers and writers, and the primary school students are passing the exams to enter secondary school.

This project was created to directly affect the SHARE girls, but it has been a ripple effect, with the benefits indirectly extending out to their families and their communities. Boys, and especially the teachers, are using the libraries. SHARE’s investment in girls’ education will improve the local economy and health in the community.

The accomplishments are huge! There has been a surge in confidence in the SHARE girls. The first summer they spoke softly with eyes downcast. The second and third summers they had excellent eye contact and spoke loudly and clearly, and their English language skills have soared! They even created and performed two original songs and dances, thanking SHARE and showing their appreciation.

For the first time these girls, with their mothers' support, are feeling empowered and are dreaming of becoming doctors, nurses, teachers, and even presidents.

These victories were achieved by the simple act of giving girls attention and access to books!

It is incredibly important that girls in Africa have the opportunity to improve their lives through education so that they can reach their highest potential.