Efforts to help students facing challenges in reading in Camarines Sur are gaining ground as more and more books are donated to a community library in Barangay Dalupaon in Pasacao.
The goal of the community library is to create a welcoming space for students and community members of all ages who are interested in reading, and provide access to a diverse collection of books. The library will be opened officially in January 2024.
The library came about through ‘Project Alon’ after teachers like Angela Pharco of Dalupaon National High School found that students would not be interested in reading because they could not get hold of materials that would capture their attention.
"Kang nag interview kami sa mga estudyante mi digdi, the reason kaya dae ninda gusto magbasa or habo ninda magbasa [ay] kasi mayo man sindang babasahon na mga books aside from academic books," Pharco says.
Dalupaon National High School (DNHS) has registered student non-readers or those facing challenges in reading. This is a challenge shared by other schools, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the community library was opened, the school received donations from different donors, including the Book Nook Project of the National Book Development Board and from other groups like the Let's Go, Partido+/Alimatok Adventure Inc. hiker group that gave seven boxes of books on December 9, 2023.
The books from the hiker group were generated through a donation drive. The group, led by David Con Rivero, is known for combining adventure and outreach programs.
"[Simula noong] 2020, nagco-conduct na kami ning mga outreach program [at] relief operations, and sabi mi, 'Mas gusto mi na para mas makabuluhan si adventures and gala na ginigibo mi, [kaya] why not ipagsaro mi itong adventure tapos itong outreach program?' Si Rabas, ito si adventure. Si Heras, ito si outreach program," Rivero says.
Rivero hopes that through such initiatives, more individuals will be inspired to contribute to community welfare, even through simple gestures.
"Nagpapasalamat po ako. Sana mahiling ko pa po sinda," Nisha, one of the recipients of the book donations, said.
