COAL Newsletter, July 2025
Hello,
2025 is going by so quickly, and we wanted to take a moment to update you and our community on some exciting events at COAL.
New Release:** **Held Too Briefly
We’re thrilled to share the release of Held Too Briefly, a digital anthology published as part of the 2025 International Awareness Day for Avoidable Disaster Deaths (IAD4AD), through the Art for Life (Art4Life) campaign. This powerful collection of poetry, flash fiction, and visual art draws attention to the human stories behind avoidable public health disasters resulting from drowning, maternal mortality, silicosis, and snakebite.
With over 100 submissions from across Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, we invite you to read and amplify this body of work, share it widely and consider supporting future art-based efforts on avoidable disasters.
🎉 Join Us: Virtual Launch Event
We would love for you to be part of the official launch featuring live readings, a creative panel, and reflections from featured contributors and partners.
🗓Date: 16 August 2025 🕐Time: 1:00 PM (GMT+1)
GAEF Update!
The 2025 call for the Grassroots Accelerated Education Fund (GAEF) received over 90 applications from across Nigeria. Over 52% of organisations reported operating on annual budgets below $5,000, with top 3 funding sources being personal contributions, local donors, and small-scale income-generating activities, a clear indication and need to support education efforts at the grassroots.
With a modest investment**,** COAL is partnering with three exceptional organisationsfor the next twelve months and scaling up to accelerate learning for ~170 learners, a 26% increase from 2024. We remain committed to supporting grassroots education efforts and ask local and citizen-led initiatives to continue strengthening their institutional systems for greater impact.
Special Offer: 20% Book Sale Discount
As part of our effort to expand access and affordability of African literature, we are pleased to offer discounted rates on selected book titles through 31 August 2025. Browse our collection and enjoy these savings while they last.
🎓Students: 20% off all titles
🙌 Returning Customers: 15% off
📦 Book Bundles (2+ titles): 20% off
Every book you buy helps fund a child’s education I Nationwide delivery across Nigeria available.
Visit the bookstore and start shopping
🎤 Open Mic: June Throwback
Thanks to everyone who made our June Open Mic— what a vibrant showcase of poetry, storytelling, and art for social change talks! Kudos to all the performers and attendees for supporting emerging creative voices in Jos Nigeria. Despite the recent violent conflicts in Plateau, young creatives continue to embrace their art for social change.
🗓Stay tuned for our next Open Mic in September 2025. Details coming soon on our social media platforms.
Stay Connected
We thank all our partners, volunteers, and supporters for your continued engagement. Your collaboration helps us advance access to education and youth development in the creative arts.
Best wishes, From all of us at COAL