For schools
If your library is locked, bare, or was never built — this page is for you.
We refurbish school libraries in Lagos at no cost to the school. There is no fee, no catch, and no requirement to have anything in place already. Applying takes about ten minutes.
Who can apply
Under-resourced schools in Lagos.
We are starting with a small first cohort in Lagos State so that we can do each library properly. As we grow, we will open to schools across Nigeria — and applications from outside Lagos are still worth making, because they tell us where to go next.
You can apply if your school is
- A public (government) primary or secondary school
- A low-fee private school serving an under-resourced community
- A community-run school
- Located in Lagos State — other areas, still apply
You do not need
None of these count against an application.
- An existing library room — we plan for schools that have none
- Any books already on hand
- A budget, a contribution, or matched funding
- A formal proposal or letter — this form is enough
We ask the school for two things
This is the whole of our side of the bargain.
- A member of staff who will take responsibility for the library, whom we train
- Timetabled reading periods, so the room is used and not just admired
What we provide
The whole library, not a box of books.
Selected schools receive all five components. We fund the work, and we come back afterwards.
- 01
The space
A room fit to read in.
- 02
The furniture
Built locally, repairable locally.
- 03
The collection
Books children want to read.
- 04
The systems
A catalogue the school can keep.
- 05
The people
A trained adult, and time to read.
How the process works
Four steps, and we reply either way.
We know what it is like to send an application into silence. We answer every school that applies, including the ones we cannot take on — and where we can, we say why.
- 01
You apply
Using the form on this page. It takes about ten minutes. You do not need to prepare anything in advance.
- 02
We review
Every application is read by a person and assessed against need and eligibility. We aim to respond within three weeks.
- 03
We visit and verify
For applications we take forward, we arrange a visit to see the space and talk to you about what the school needs.
- 04
Selected schools are notified
We contact you directly with a decision and, if selected, a timeline. We reply either way — including when the answer is no.
The application
Apply for a library
Fifteen questions, five of them optional. Answer as briefly as you like — we would rather have a short honest application than a polished one. If you would prefer to send it by email instead, write to applications@theavidfoundation.org.
Thank you — your application is with us.
We have it, and a real person will read it. Here is what happens next:
- 01We review every application against our eligibility and need criteria.
- 02If we take yours forward, we contact you to arrange a visit and verify the space.
- 03Selected schools are notified directly. We reply either way.
Keep an eye on the inbox you gave us — including the spam folder, as our first reply sometimes lands there. If you need to add anything, email applications@theavidfoundation.org.