Buzi, a former teacher, currently works as a mortgage banker, but he says teaching is one of his favorite pastimes, something that has always given him a good feeling.

Buzi is constantly looking for ways to help those less fortunate than himself. His travels have taken him all over Asia and Europe. He has taught English in Taiwan and has volunteered working with children in Poland. Buzi says Africa is a place he has been longing to go to for quite some time—but before he made plans, he wanted to find a way to volunteer some of his time while there.

"I wanted my travel to be more meaningful, so I knew I wanted to get involved with the local people somehow," Buzi explains.

Through research and talks with people who had been to Ghana, Buzi heard it to be a poor country that needed help, but also a peaceful and stable place whose people are friendly, and many of those people speak English as a second language. He decided to look into volunteer opportunities there.

"Many of the volunteer programs I came across were expensive. Some organizations charge thousands of dollars for the privilege of volunteering," Buzi says. "That didn't seem right to me." Many of the programs also involve skills he doesn't have, such as medical knowledge.

One day Buzi visited the Lonely Planet website and posted a question about volunteer opportunities in Ghana in one of its online forums. He received a reply from someone recommending the Osu Children's Library Fund. The person put Buzi in touch with the organization's founder. Through Osu, Buzi discovered a serious issue facing the people of Ghana.

"In Africa and elsewhere, illiteracy rates are very high," says Buzi. "Part of the reason this problem persists is that while school is often compulsory for children, many parents cannot afford to pay the school fees, sometimes as little as $2 a month." He explains that in poor areas such as Ghana, libraries act as "free schools" for children who cannot afford school and serve as after-school learning and socializing centers for children who otherwise have few opportunities for personal growth and intellectual stimulation. Many of them also offer literacy classes for adults.

Buzi spoke with Osu's founder, Kathy Knowles, a Canadian citizen who lived in Africa for a while. She explained that Osu found its start under a tree in Accra, Ghana, where she would often sit and read to a small group of neighborhood children. Soon that group of six children began growing in numbers, as more and more children began showing up—children "who wanted to explore the magical world of books." In order to meet the demand of all who wanted to learn to read, Knowles transformed a 40-foot container into the city's first permanent library in 1992. Not long after, she established the Osu Children's Library Fund, which has since built three large community libraries in Accra and has launched more than 120 smaller libraries throughout Ghana. Recently, support has been given to libraries in Zimbabwe and Uganda.

The more Buzi learned about Osu, the more it appealed to him. Its volunteer program charged no additional fees and would allow him to raise donations locally, as well as travel to Ghana to teach children to read.

"The program appealed to me because it matched my interests, allowing me to teach, and matched my skills," says Buzi.

Buzi is now readying himself for his upcoming trip, which he says will most likely begin in August and last for six to eight weeks. He explained there is much preparation necessary for a trip of this magnitude. In addition to arranging for the time off work and making sure his finances are in order, there are medical procedures he must complete before traveling to a Third World country. Buzi must get shots for tetanus, typhoid, polio, yellow fever and measles, and take malaria pills before he can make his trip. Although a little nervous about the immunizations, Buzi says he is excited about his upcoming trip and the chance to help the people of Ghana.

"Being wealthier, as many of us are in this area, I think we kind of lose sight of things sometimes," says Buzi. "For the price of a used car to us—like about $4,000 or $5,000—that is often enough to build a library that can serve an entire neighborhood for them."

In addition to his trip, Buzi is also in the process of trying to set up local fundraisers that will entice people to get involved and to donate.

"I know that with other people's help, I could do so much more," says Buzi.

Donations can be made to the World Library Partnership and can be sent to 5205 Prospect Road, No. 135­136, San Jose, CA 95129. Donations of $15 or more are tax deductible and receipts will be issued. For more information, visit www.osuchildrenslibraryfund.ca or call 204.488.6633.Those interested in helping Buzi with local fundraising can email him at jbuzi2@hotmail.com.