KEEP ANGSOENG LIT! The Pookai Book Project is happily assisting with a new fund drive to help the Angsoeng Library power a brand new generator. A friend of Angsoeng founder Chandara Lor, Corinne Purtill, is asking friends and others to give money for generator fuel.

This month is a big one for Angsoeng Library -- the library recently received 2 computers donated by a US company, which they have been unable to use because the village has no electricity. But with his personal savings and a few donations, LC just bought a generator (he showed me pictures - she's a beaut), to be unveiled at the library later this month. This will allow rural children to use computers for the first time. LC also plans to have special "Electricity Nights," where villagers will be able to come to the library and read under the glow of an electric light, some for the first time ever.

The amount of time that the generator can be turned on depends on how much money the library has to buy gasoline each month. LC's current plan is to pay for the gas out of his own pocket, which is a pretty considerable sacrifice, even in light of all he has given to his village already.

I'd like to help him out, and maybe some of you would too. This email kicks off the "Keep Angsoeng Lit" campaign. 1 hour of electricity takes about 1 liter of gas, which costs 75 cents. So $0.75 buys 1 hour of electricity for Angsoeng Library, $3 buys 4 hours, $7.50 keeps the lights on for 10. You can do the math. Literally, the tiniest bit helps.

If you’d like to give for this cause, The Pookai Book Project will pool donations to Keep Angsoeng Lit and send them separate from our organization’s annual donations. Money you give to Keep Angsoeng Lit will be solely to power the new generator at the library.

We’ll also be sending along a new computer, printer and other equipment next month.