#202 Inspired to start and scale a charity for impact, Fiona Luth founder & CEO Fiji Book Drive

Welcoming Fiona Luth to Purposely, where she shares her founder story and charitable mission to transform literacy in Fiji. We discuss her motivations for starting and scaling the charity as well as plans for the future.

Fiona Luth founded Fiji Book Drive in 2012, following the loss of her second parent. While in Kadavu, Fiji, she experienced a moment of clarity, realising her desire to create as much positivity in the world as possible. Inspired by Peter and Margaret Long, who run the charity 'Children of Fiji', and conversations with her friend Lavenia Tamani about the lack of books in schools, Fiona became acutely aware of the challenges faced by Fijian students. With English being the compulsory language of instruction in Fiji, Fiona saw an opportunity to make a significant impact.

Upon returning to Australia, Fiona shared her vision of a book drive with her friend Laura Hahn. Laura embraced the idea, offering crucial support through her family's freight forwarding business for the first five years of the initiative.

Since its inception in 2012, Fiji Book Drive has made a remarkable impact, donating over 300,000 books to 194 schools and kindergartens across Fiji. The charity's mission is rooted in the belief that education empowers students and communities, with access to proper resources being key to a quality education. Recognising the abundance of educational materials in Australia, Fiji Book Drive aims to redirect these resources to under-resourced schools in Fiji.

The organisation's primary goal is to improve educational outcomes and life opportunities for Fijian students by increasing access to educational resources, with a focus on literacy. They strive to repurpose books, computers, and other educational materials, transferring them from those who no longer need them to those who do. Additionally, Fiji Book Drive is committed to operating sustainably, keeping resources out of landfills and prioritizing the distribution of durable goods.

Fiji Book Drive is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.