Following a recent appeal in The Journal to send books to girls and young women in Ghana, many local people, schools and charities have responded overwhelmingly.

Emma Parker, from Peasedown St John, who recently returned from volunteering in Northern Ghana with International Service at Create Change; a charity that helps disadvantaged girls gain access to education, has been collecting children’s books to send to the girls and young women she worked with whilst in Ghana, since her return.

Emma said: “I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response to the request for book donations. Lots of people have donated so many really lovely children’s storybooks and together we have managed to fill fifteen boxes full of books and stationary!

“The girls and young women at Create Change will be absolutely over the moon to read, enjoy and learn from them. I would like to say a really big thank you to everyone who has donated books, including Oakfield Academy in Frome, H.U.G.S charity shop on Chelsea Road and all the young children who have looked through their book collections and generously donated their books to the girls who are supported by Create Change.”

Due to the unexpectedly large amount of book donations received, Emma is now raising money to pay for the postage of the books to Ghana.

She said: “I have found a company who can send the books to Accra at the cost of £50 per box, I hope to ship the books in February, so between now and then, I will be doing lots of different fundraising activities.”

Emma plans to walk from Peasedown St John to Glastonbury Tor carrying a rucksack full of her old university textbooks, hold a literature-themed pub quiz, details of which will be released soon, and hold a competition to guess the total number of books donated, all to help raise the funds needed to transport the books to Ghana.

If you think you can guess how many books are in the picture, simply visit Emma’s JustGiving page: (www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/SendBooks2GirlsinGhana) where you can enter the competition by donating as little as £1 and posting your answer in the comments box or alternatively, send your answer and donation to Emma at: 49 Russet Way, Peasedown St John, BA2 8SU. Whoever guesses closest to the correct amount of donated books will receive a £15 WHSmith voucher courtesy of Emma’s mum! The winner will be announced on 20th January. Get guessing, giving, and good luck!