The African Diaspora Association (ADA) at WSU extended its Books for Africa event.

ADA President Karen Ngigi said the event was supposed to run for the duration of Black History Month but will now last for two more weeks.

She said the book drop-off will be at Holland and Terrell Libraries for the first week and then at the Lighty Student Services Building for the last week. If the drive is extended any further, it will take place in the library because that is where they received the most donations.

The group partnered with Marafiki Community International, an organization based in Kikuyu, Kenya, which will distribute the books ADA sends them to different schools in Nairobi, Kenya.

“Since we are a college club, we wanted see how we could help people that are in the same situation or want to get into college,” she said.

The group is aiming to collect around 100 to 150 books, Ngigi said, and so far they have received between 40 and 50.

ADA Events Coordinator Yemeserach Bishaw said they are accepting all types of book. Ngigi said they hope the books can impact and change the lives of those who receive them.

“Maybe it’s a high schooler and they get a book, maybe it’s even a college-level and it’s a biology book,” Ngigi said. “Maybe they will read that, and it will inspire them to go into college to do that.”

Bishaw said the ADA executive board is comprised of people from Africa, a lot of whom are graduating, and they wanted to do something impactful before they left.

“We have always talked about how we can help the community back home,” she said.

Another reason for doing this book drive is they want to lay the foundation for the next generation of the club, Bishaw said.

“Whoever is replacing us — we want to let them know, ‘Hey, these would be some great ideas for next year,’ so we want it to continue,” she said.

Ngigi said this is the first time they have done an outreach event, but they planned events in the past aimed at trying to build an African community at WSU.

Ngigi said an event they have planned for in the future is Africa Night on April 13. It will be an event where they showcase their food, performances and dances.

Bishaw said she wants people to understand that Africa is a continent with 54 countries and each country has its own unique culture.

“Our main focus as a group is exposing our culture to WSU and the Pullman community,” Ngigi said, “showing that there is more than what people see about what Africa is from what they see on TV.”