Nikoué lives in France, far from part of his family who stayed in Togo. Like many in the diaspora, he keeps the connection in his own way: calls, help when he can, and gifts sent to Lomé for holidays and birthdays. That year, he changed something. Instead of perfume or shoes, he decided to send books.

Nikoué is part of the Betfrika team. When he told us this story, we first smiled. Then we understood that this small episode said a lot about the challenge we face with BookEducation: giving books is one thing; making people want to read is another.

For years his gifts were classic—and above all, expected. Things “that feel good right away,” those you show, wear, share on social media, as we explore in our article on diaspora gifts. But seeing his cousins grow up, Nikoué asked himself a simple question: what will really stay with them in two years, five years, ten years? He wanted to offer something that could open doors, not just make eyes shine for five minutes.

So he took time to choose. Books close to their reality so they could see themselves. And others further away, to open windows onto the world. He wrapped everything carefully and waited for that moment when you hear kids’ excitement on the phone.

The package arrived, but the reaction was… different. His aunt called, a bit embarrassed: yes, the kids had received it, but they were disappointed. They expected “a real gift,” as usual—a perfume, shoes, a phone, something they would have chosen themselves. One cousin even said, without malice but bluntly: next time, send money instead, it will be easier. Then came the hardest sentence, said without ill will but with disarming honesty: if you could not find anything else in Europe but books, do not send anything to the kids. In one sentence, everything was there: the book was not seen as a gift but as the symbol of an effort deemed pointless, almost proof that he had not done “better.”

What is surprising is not the frankness. It is what this scene reveals. In many households, a book is not associated with pleasure. It is associated with school, obligation, a work tool. Offering a book can be seen as offering a notebook or homework, not a moment of joy.

And it is not “the children’s fault.” It is the context. When there is no home library, when books are rare, when only what is needed for school is bought, reading becomes a task. In school, we learn to decode to pass exams, but we do not always build the love of reading. As a result, we do not naturally develop the idea that a book can be a gift, a refuge, an adventure.

That is exactly where BookEducation steps in. Our mission is not only to circulate books. It is to create a reading culture. That means pairing donations with actions that make the book desirable. Giving value to the gesture. Creating moments when reading becomes a pleasure, not a punishment. Encouraging simple rituals: a story told, a shared book, a discussion, a curiosity that wakes up.

And because cultural change is never immediate, Nikoué’s story does not end with a quick “happy ending.” After the call, the books stayed at home without special care. With rain and humidity, some copies ended up damaged. Nobody read them. Not because the kids were “bad,” but because in this context a book is not yet perceived as precious or as a pleasure to protect.

This is exactly what Betfrika wants to change. As long as a book is seen as a leftover, a school object, or a constraint, it will not be desired, protected, or passed on. That is why BookEducation is not limited to moving boxes. We also work on the desire to read, the symbolic value of the book, and the habits that give reading a real place in daily life.

When we set up a collection box, sort cartons, or prepare a distribution, we think of this kind of scene. Yes, some books may stay closed for a while. But sometimes a single book, at the right moment, can spark a habit that changes everything.

For another inspiring example, read Koffi’s story and how a reading challenge changed his path.

You can help us in practical ways. Join our collections, talk about BookEducation around you, suggest a drop-off point, or support our actions. Together, let us make a book what it should always be: a precious gift.