Overview
The Book Bus is a registered charity founded in 2008 by publisher Tom Maschler. It works to improve literacy by increasing access to books and reading opportunities for children in underserved communities in Zambia.
Over the past 12 years, its mobile libraries have travelled more than 250,000 miles and supported over 100,000 children to access books and develop a love of reading.
The organisation is now a trusted partner to schools, families and education authorities, with a strong emphasis on locally led delivery.
Mission and approach
The Book Bus aims to address global literacy challenges by helping children develop strong reading skills and a lifelong love of learning.
The organisation believes that access to books and opportunities to read can unlock educational, social and economic opportunities for individuals and communities.
Its vision is that every child achieves full literacy and builds a stronger future through education. Working closely with teachers, schools, families and education authorities, The Book Bus takes a holistic, child-centred approach.
Programmes are delivered by local staff and in-house teachers to ensure relevance and long-term sustainability.
What they do
The Book Bus delivers books directly to schools through its fleet of mobile libraries, enabling access to high-quality reading materials in areas where resources are limited.
Alongside book provision, the organisation supports literacy development through teacher training, classroom support and community engagement. Its structured programmes help children make the crucial transition from learning to read to reading to learn, ensuring literacy underpins wider educational success.
Expeditions and participation opportunities
The Book Bus offers opportunities for volunteers to support its literacy programmes in partner countries. Volunteer roles may include:
- Assisting with reading sessions in primary schools.
- Supporting teachers and classroom-based literacy activities.
- Helping to deliver and manage mobile library services.
- Engaging with families and communities to encourage reading beyond school.
Specific opportunities vary by country and programme, but all volunteering is designed to complement locally led initiatives and support long-term impact.
Through collaboration with supporters, teachers and volunteers, The Book Bus continues to expand access to books, foster a culture of reading, and help children unlock a brighter future through literacy.
Last updated: December 2025.