Books from Herbie
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Books From Herbie
Mission: To provide children with racially diverse books that reflect our nation and our World.
We believe that to achieve an equal and anti-racist society, we must start in our schools. It is clear to us and many others that racial diversity is not being seen nearly enough within the British education system, and so we have carefully curated a pack of five/ten books designed to cater to different age groups in an effort to uplift and encourage pupils of all ages to engage and learn. We need young people of all races and ethnic backgrounds to feel educated and reflected within the literature they are consuming.
Who was Herbie?
(By Maya Pillay - one of our founders).
So, first and foremost to me, Herby* was my dad. He was a political activist and spent most of his life working against racism. Much of this work was done as a South African freedom fighter, working against the Apartheid regime. After being imprisoned in South Africa for his political work, he was exiled to the UK where he continued this mission, taking on the role of regional Secretary General for the ANC and their envoy to the World Peace Council. There were many adventures that we might tell you one day. Revolution was always on his lips and it’s a trait he’s instilled in my sister Anna, my brother Jonny and myself.
Dad was a huge believer in the power of education for change. He taught in South Africa and after retiring from his career as a psychologist, went on to study literature. He was never without a book and a highlighter. As a young child he read to me and as an older woman he read alongside me, stopping to discuss any aspect that took us as we went.
Having lost my dad recently and becoming increasingly aware of the lack of diversity amongst children’s literature, we chose to name our mission after him. Feeling it fitting in continuing his work. For the man who told us we could move mountains.
Amandla Awethu - Power to the People - A rallying cry in the days of resistance against apartheid.
*Herby to his family - Herbie publicly. No one knows why. Don’t ask.
Mission: To provide children with racially diverse books that reflect our nation and our World.
We believe that to achieve an equal and anti-racist society, we must start in our schools. It is clear to us and many others that racial diversity is not being seen nearly enough within the British education system, and so we have carefully curated a pack of five/ten books designed to cater to different age groups in an effort to uplift and encourage pupils of all ages to engage and learn. We need young people of all races and ethnic backgrounds to feel educated and reflected within the literature they are consuming.
Who was Herbie?
(By Maya Pillay - one of our founders).
So, first and foremost to me, Herby* was my dad. He was a political activist and spent most of his life working against racism. Much of this work was done as a South African freedom fighter, working against the Apartheid regime. After being imprisoned in South Africa for his political work, he was exiled to the UK where he continued this mission, taking on the role of regional Secretary General for the ANC and their envoy to the World Peace Council. There were many adventures that we might tell you one day. Revolution was always on his lips and it’s a trait he’s instilled in my sister Anna, my brother Jonny and myself.
Dad was a huge believer in the power of education for change. He taught in South Africa and after retiring from his career as a psychologist, went on to study literature. He was never without a book and a highlighter. As a young child he read to me and as an older woman he read alongside me, stopping to discuss any aspect that took us as we went.
Having lost my dad recently and becoming increasingly aware of the lack of diversity amongst children’s literature, we chose to name our mission after him. Feeling it fitting in continuing his work. For the man who told us we could move mountains.
Amandla Awethu - Power to the People - A rallying cry in the days of resistance against apartheid.
*Herby to his family - Herbie publicly. No one knows why. Don’t ask.
Fundraising team: Books from Herbie (5)
Books from Herbie
Organizer
England
Maya Pillay
Team member
Molly Byrne Shore
Team member
Catherine Davies
Team member
Olivia Swann
Team member