Ships :: Literature is donated in many ports by both Doulos Hope and Logos Hope, but where does it go, and how does it benefit communities?
GBA Ships’ vision is to share knowledge, help and hope. One of the ways to realise that vision is through donations. Via the organisation’s two current vessels, Logos Hope and Doulos Hope, good quality literature is made accessible to more people.
In 2026, Logos Hope could donate books to John and Sharon Henry (Trinidad and Tobago) on behalf of ‘Deaf Pioneers Life Centre.’ The year before they had also received picture books to give to the deaf community.
“The English is difficult for them, and with these books they can learn to read,” John said.
Another local resident, Anila Murren (Trinidad), who works in a primary school, visited the ship to ask for a donation for her school library. “We are from a rural community... the donation would help with building literacy… and students will have that access to the library to read [and] borrow books,” Anila said.
In Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, a team of crewmembers visited a correctional facility. They were asked to bring books for the library which was recently set up and didn’t have many. Later, one inmate who was excited about the new books said to a crewmember, “When the books are in the library, I want to read all of them.”
Meanwhile, when sister vessel Doulos Hope visited Palawan in the Philippines, the impact reached far beyond the port. A partnership between Doulos Hope and Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm is giving Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) access to quality books that support both education and transformation.
Representatives from the prison’s Education and Training Section visited Doulos Hope’s bookfair to carefully select titles that matched the needs of those imprisoned, from English and mathematics to science and literature. For many, this was their first-time gaining access to high-quality books chosen specifically for their educational journey.
“These books will be a great help to the PDL to increase their knowledge; to increase their ideas,” explained one education officer at Iwahig’s Central Subcolony.
And when previous organisational vessel Doulos had visited Timor-Leste in 2008, crewmembers had helped to build a school. With literature challenging to access, this year, more books were provided to continue helping the school, as they sought to expand their educational offering.
Crewmembers spoke with the librarian of the school who shared that the school was working towards accreditation to become an elementary primary school.
“Accreditation is a requirement from the Ministry of Education of Timor-Leste. Right now, the pre-school has been accredited, but the elementary — we are on the process of accreditation, and one requirement is a library. So how can you say this is a library without books? We really need books, so this is timely provision… and we're so grateful,” the librarian shared.
“We believe the school has a great role in the minds, in the hearts of these children who would be the next generation. And this generation will be the one to share what they receive from the school…” she said.
Donations such as these, are a small part of sharing knowledge, help, and hope, not possible without the support from people like you around the world. Thank you for the part you or your organisation may play and for your joy in helping seeing this vision realised.
If you would like to financially support GBA Ships and join the vision of sharing knowledge, help and hope, you can click here to donate today.
Thank you for your generosity!