THE CURFEW Library for the underprivileged is adding more books to its crowd-sourced collection. The Curfew Library is a social impact initiative that focuses on social inclusiveness and youth empowerment. It was set up by BridgEgypt in August 2013, when there was still a curfew in force in Egypt. BridgEgypt provides corporate social responsibility advice to companies and communications services to raise the profile of social causes and non-profit initiatives. The Curfew Library aims to build a crowd-sourced library for underprivileged youth, and encourage reading and cultural exchange through book swaps. Book collections take place through social media and networking events. People are invited to exchange old books for new ones while donating others to the library. In January 2014, BridgEgypt was approached by Plan International Egypt to collaborate in its outreach to less fortunate youth. Over 700 books were donated to the two libraries that have been set up thus far: in Ezbet Khairallah, a village near Cairo) and Tammou in Giza. There are plans to open locations in seven governorates. AUC Press and the Diwan Bookstore have also contributed to the project.
