The Oakland Bay Area Chapter of the Links organization has adopted Anoe, which has mud houses without finished floors or running water, and three schools with limited books, volunteers said Wednesday.

This year the group is establishing libraries and computer centers for the first time in selected schools, said Ruth Love, chairperson of the International Committee of Links.

"It's amazing that all the children want to read," said Love, who used to live in Ghana. "All the kids want to be somebody when they grow up."

The group uses a local storage space, donated by Carlos Caipo, president of Pacific Commodities Transportation Inc., to collect donated materials.

"I would like to help because it's a good cause," Caipo said.

LaVergne Malone has been a member of the Links organization for 30 years.

"We want to make life easier so (children in Anoe) can help themselves," she said.

"Children stood on chairs outside school windows trying to get an education," said Malone about her last trip to Ghana.

A 40-foot shipping container will be packed with supplies and shipped to Ghana in April. Love is asking for donations of books, school supplies and medical equipment.

Although children in Ghana have few books at school and none at home, they are interested in reading because books are treasured possessions, Love said.

For more information about the Links to Ghana collection, contact Love at (510) 622-7707 or Griselda Bautista at (510) 433-0405, extension 10.

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