Giving Back

Want to Adopt Your Own Library?

While a library was built at the Ihwa Primary School in Nyeri, children across Kenya are in need of libraries. The students at some schools don’t have adequate access to books and materials that promote literacy and learning. If you’d like to further support the cause, consider taking part in the Adopt-A-Library program and funding a school library of your own.

Whether you’re an individual, a team, a business, an organization or a group, the logistics are already in place. Dr. Scheer can connect you with his Kenyan contacts who will use your donation to provide books and shelving to a school that doesn’t have a library. The program also involves training teachers in library management and inspiring a positive reading culture in the school community. Not only will you bring joy to students, the library will also be named after you or your business.

Contact Dr. Scheer today to learn more!

The Story Behind the Project

Even before becoming an orthodontist in Colorado, Dr. Scheer was dedicated to giving back. In 2011, while he was in dental school, he went on a cooperative mission with Kenyan dental students at Moi University. They provided dental care to homeless children in the city of Eldoret. The experience was so meaningful to Dr. Scheer, that he went on another mission trip the following year, traveling village to village in Ecuador offering dentistry to those in need.

While both trips were life changing and strengthened his already strong spirit of service, during his month in Kenya, Dr. Scheer fell in love with the country and the people. Since then, Kenya has held a special place in his heart.

Serendipitously, Dr. Scheer began treating a patient at Shine Orthodontics who is Kenyan. The patient’s father, Robert Mwangi, and Dr. Scheer discussed their experiences in the country and the needs of the children there. Upon learning that the Ihwa Primary School didn’t have a library or storybooks and that the students struggled with written and spoken language, Dr. Scheer partnered with Mr. Mwangi to create a library at the school.

After a period of planning and communication, the school agreed to set aside one of the new classrooms being built to serve as the library. Dr. Scheer provided funding and a team from Text Book Centre, a bookstore chain in Africa, designed and delivered mobile bookshelves to the school. They also conducted training for teachers and several students on library management and running activities, such as debates, book club discussions, essay writing competitions and storytelling.

On August 24, 2021, Dr. Scheer and Mr. Mwangi had books delivered to the school and some of the excited students were reading them before they even reached the shelves. Our hope is that the library will help provide a solid foundation for learning and a love of reading with free access to books, educational materials and programs.

Now, Dr. Scheer plans to fund the creation of more school libraries in other villages. By donating or even simply sharing the story with friends and family, you can play an important role in creating libraries and transforming the lives of future generations.