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100 books change the world of 100 children

Words by Smiley Team

Lemn Sissay OBE hopes to help change the lives of 100 children in Ethopia with the release of his children's book, Don't Ask The Dragon.

Lemn is a charity patron of Project Harar, a UK registered charity working in Ethiopia to help children affected by facial disfigurements. He has signed 100 copies of his new children’s book and is auctioning each copy for £150, which is how much it costs for a child in a rural area of Ethiopia to access treatment for a cleft condition.

When a child reaches treatment their whole world is transformed, they will be able to be included in their community, access an education and make friends — often for the first time in their lives.

These 100 books really could help transform the world of 100 children.

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The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and civil unrest has meant that there are more children than ever waiting to access Project Harar’s services. On 4 April, Lemn Sissay tweeted: “Please help. There are 100 specially donated copies of #DontAsktheDragon each one is £150. Each signed copy will change the world of a child with an untreated cleft condition in Ethiopia.”

Don’t Ask the Dragon is a story of a little boy called Alem who goes on an adventure – it’s a story about finding joy and home wherever you are. It is the first children’s book from Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author and poet Lemn Sissay and artist, Greg Stobbs. 

Project Harar is a charity that helps families living in the most remote and rural areas of Ethiopia access essential treatment for cleft lip and palate, they also facilitate treatment, training and awareness raising for people affected by cleft and complex facial conditions.

Children in these areas are already at greater risk of malnutrition, an untreated cleft condition dramatically increases this risk. When a child reaches treatment for a cleft lip or palate their world is transformed, they will be able to be included in their community, access an education and make friends — often for the first time in their lives.

Inspired to act?

BUY A BOOK: Help to change someone’s world, by buying a special signed copy of Lemn Sissay’s Don’t Ask the Dragon.

DONATE: You can make a donation to Project Harar’s urgent appeal in Ethiopia.

 

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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