Socially responsible stationery—it’s everything a paper collector like me could ask for. I get to bring ideas to life while helping others in need.

You can just imagine my joy when I stumbled upon Bright Books by Amy O’Shea. Founded in 2009, her experience in Uganda with the Arlington Academy of Hope inspired her to start a business that could help the communities that struggle for electricity access everyday.

I was shocked to learn that the most frequent health problems encountered at the clinic were chronic upper respiratory infections. Not malaria, not AIDS but chest colds, in large part because of the indoor air pollution created from kerosene lamps and cooking over open flames. This seemed crazy to me because we have the technology to do better. What we were missing was the money and coordination to make positive changes.

Bright Books are basically lined 8.5 x 5.5” journals sold in pairs. All 128 pages are 100gsm thick and sewn bound so they fall flat when writing. They’re built with pretty hard covers that protect from scratches or spills, while the gold and white chevron elastic band holds everything together.

Every purchase gives a child light to help him or her study, read, and live ideally. Partnerships with non-profit organizations like the AAH and Lighthouse Peace Initiative Corp. allow Bright Books to distribute the lights to communities and refugee camps that need them the most. Each journal is manufactured in a FSC-certified & ICTI Care-certified facility, so even the production itself is a mindful process. ?

A pair of Bright Books cost $22. These are definitely on my list of journals to bring to pagerie.co, but for now you can buy them from the official website. ?

Resources:

1. Bright Books website
2. “Our Favorite Sustainable School Supplies with Impact!” by SHE
3. Follow Bright Books on Instagram and Facebook