Glossopedia

Glossopedia is GLOBIO’s solution to a critical need: the overwhelming lack of child-specific, child-friendly, learning content on the internet. Glossopedia, is our multimedia online interactive encyclopedia, connecting kids to the world by supporting discovery of nature, animals, science, and culture. No other resource like it exists, primarily because GLOBIO owns or has long-term rights to all the content explored in Glossopedia. Read more

Glossopedia is a first of its kind resource, but its real advantage is in the depth of its visually exciting, rich multi-media content, including photos and video of rare plants and endangered species from wildlife reserves and environments across the globe. Each Glossopedia article contains text, video clips, audio files (vocabulary pronunciation guides, recorded animal sounds, etc.), photo galleries, maps, interactive features, and content-related vocabulary lessons. Children explore Glossopedia content by using one of four search and discovery tools: a text search; “GeoSearch,” a geography-based graphic interface; and a photo image search and a current events “In The News” search. Glossopedia also includes a Fast Facts section, and an email tool so children can submit questions.

Billabong: Online Global Children’s Community

GLOBIO’s long term goal is to create a global children’s online community, a place where kids discover the world and each other, through open, free and civil dialogue, shared activities and exploring one another's lives, culture and interests – that is the place we call the Billabong. Read more

Unfortunately, despite the global power of the internet, no such place exists for kids, at least not quite yet. We plan over the next few years to harness the funding, people and resources to expand further on our modest first steps at Billabong, such as Our Voice, named by fifth-graders, and was visited in its Beta version (2008-9) by tens of thousands of kids from over 100 countries around the world. Frankly, we were a bit taken back by the overwhelming response kids gave us and are regrouping, rethinking and redesigning how we can better fulfill kid’s needs for a place to share their voices.

Some of the input from kids was amazing and thoughtful, but perhaps none was more touching than this from 15 year old student Aqsa Z. in Pakistan:

"What is the meaning of terrorism in your opinion and what do you think about my country? Do you think that its only Pakistan or Pakistani people who are terrorists? Don't you think that its somebody else who doesn't wants us to unite in this time? So that we can not stand up against them together and finally would you be my friend and tell people that PAKISTANIS ARE NOT TERRORISTS. I am a student just…[sic]"

Billabong can be a unique opportunity for kids to communicate given a chance – if you would like to support that opportunity please Donate Now to its development.

Bring-A-Book

Bring-A-Book is an international effort to foster literacy and inspire children’s self-confidence through books. Your support of Bring-A-Book hands a child the first book he or she may have ever owned, putting the world within their grasp. Read more

Many children around the world have never had a book of their own. With the help of people like you, inspired by the desire to increase literacy world-wide, GLOBIO’s Bring-A-Book is changing the future for children around the globe. Change starts with travelers like you deciding to make the small effort of packing a book with you on your next trip. This simple act can make a huge difference in the life of a child. Bring-A-Book has already helped deliver thousands of books to children in Africa, Asia and South America.

Bring-A-Book is made possible by the generous support from hundreds of people like you and by a gift from the Chrysalis Foundation and ongoing support from the Classic Escapes Conservation Fund.

To Learn More:

Give the Gift of Education and Inspire Imagination

Our focus is on books because they are vital seeds in the growth of life-long learning. Bring-A-Book makes the process of gift-giving one of the most rewarding parts of travel and one of the best opportunities to engage with the locals.Books can be shared by many, last for years and are easily transported.

Our goal is not only to increase literacy but to plant seeds of stewardship for local environments. This, in turn, creates a new generation of earth-conscious global citizens. Because of this, many of our recommended books are nature and science based.

Not traveling but still eager to make a difference? Make a donation and GLOBIO will make the delivery. Your tax-deductible donation to Bring-A-Book will guarantee the purchase and delivery of age-appropriate, culturally sensitive books or a Library Launch Box.The Bring-A-Book project is run with minimal overhead and volunteer help to insure donations from people like you return the greatest reward. Support the Bring-A-Book project by buying a book or donating now.

How To Buy Books

The fun and easy part is buying books. To purchase a book(s) begin by exploring GLOBIO’s Recommended BAB List, full of readable and fun books about culture, wildlife, and places for kids chosen by our advisory group of teachers, librarians and authors. Then choose one of three ways to Bring-A-Book:

  1. Purchase a book(s) from our Recommended BAB List and take it with you when you travel.
  2. Purchase a book(s) from the Recommended BAB List and have it delivered to GLOBIO and we will get it to a school in the country you select or let us decide where it’s needed most.
  3. Make a donation for books or Library Launch Box and we will insure they go to a school in the country you select or let us decide where it’s needed most.

If you choose option 2 or 3 please send us an email and let us know if you would like books to be delivered to a school in a country we choose or a country you choose (see list below).

Countries Where We Currently Deliver Books:

  • Botswana
  • China
  • Ecuador
  • India
  • Kenya
  • Namibia
  • Peru
  • Rwanda
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

What’s a BAB Library Launch Box™ ?

Donate $250 and launch a starter library with the BAB Library Launch Box—tailored to each school’s need, inside an insect proof box it may include local and world maps, nature and wildlife books, and an assortment of appropriate cultural titles.

Get Your Kids and Class Involved in BAB

Looking for a great way to teach your students about the value of literacy and a chance to involve them in changing the world? Help raise money for books – then let them choose from our online list – or a BAB Library Launch Box and we’ll get them delivered. We’ll also send you a collection of photos showing where books were delivered, the kids and class you are supporting and a few thank you letters or drawings from the kids you helped. For more information contact us at BAB@globio.org

History of Bring-A-Book

Bring-A-Book was first launched in Kenya by Marcia Gordon of Classic Escapes as a way to get books into the hands of children in developing countries. She felt that there was a window of opportunity to “excite” kids on the magic of reading before other media took over. Marcia recognized that many of her clients would love to have the joy of personally delivering books to schools; travelers could be the perfect cost-effective vehicle for getting books to children. Many visitors wanted to help the schools financially, so a partnership with GLOBIO was created to ensure the books and money reached the schools and continues to be used wisely. Since 2000 Classic Escapes has supported BAB with time, energy and money helping deliver over $100,000 worth of books and supplies to children around the world.

It Begins with YOU

Together, we can increase literacy and education opportunities for countless children.

Have questions or need additional information please contact us at BAB@globio.org

Don't have any plans to visit a BAB country? Donate money for a book or Library Launch Box and GLOBIO will deliver it for you!

GLOBIO is a 501 (C)(3) Nonprofit #93-1320592