Who we are
BISEE Books was established in memory of Rebecca Logie, 19, Indira Swann, 18, Sarah Howard, 26, Emily Sadler 19, and Elizabeth Pincock, 19, who were travelling in Ecuador when their coach struck a lorry loaded with sand on the 12th April 2008. The name takes the first letter of each girl’s first name – Becci, Indira, Sarah, Emily and Elizabeth (Lizzie).
BISEE Books was officially launched in April 2009, with a visit to Ecuador by the families of the five girls one year on from the accident. Five schools had their own library created in the girls’ names.
With thanks to the tremendous support of family, friends and other people moved by the cause, funds were initially used to purchase the BISEE Book Bus in 2010. The BISEE Book Bus was decorated with artwork by Sir Quentin Blake, stocked with books, materials and volunteers, and travelled throughout communities in Ecuador, working directly with those children most in need of our help. In 2016, the BISEE Book Bus had to be sold. Meanwhile the activity of BISEE Books in Ecuador has continued by establishing permanent libraries.
BISEE Books has worked in Ecuador in partnership with Girandula (the Ecuadorian Association of Children’s Books), and the British School in Quito. More recently, we have also given support to Proyecto Tsere, a project established to support literacy amongst the indigenous people in Ecuador. The literacy projects in Ecuador are a cornerstone of the memorial to the five girls who died, and the survivors, of the 12th April 2008 coach crash.
BISEE Books also continues to look for opportunities to help disadvantaged children from other regions of the world by linking up with suitable local partners. In Cambodia, we have worked in partnership with ABOUTAsia Schools, which supports the education of almost 53,000 children.
BISEE Books is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (registered charity number 1151664). The Trustees of BISEE Books are:
Dr Robin Logie
Dr Annelisa Sadler
Dr Lizzie Swan
Dr Kate Pincock
Mr Terry Wilkinson