Spreading knowledge and developing reading culture in Laos

On November 23, the Humanitarian Bookcase and Wisdom House program, in collaboration with ITL Group, organized a ceremony to present books, scholarships and UV-protection hats at Chansavang Primary School, Sikhodtabong District, Vientiane Capital, Laos. This event marked an important step in the journey of spreading knowledge and building a cross-border reading culture of the Humanitarian Bookcase and Wisdom House.

Đại diện Ngôi nhà Trí tuệ, Tủ sách Nhân ái cùng tập đoàn ITL trao sách và quà cho các em học sinh Trường Tiểu học Chansavang, Lào.

Representatives of Wisdom House, Humanity Bookcase and ITL Group presented books and gifts to students of Chansavang Primary School, Laos.

New milestone in the journey of sowing knowledge

Since 2019, the Humanity Bookcase and the Wisdom House have donated Vietnamese bookcases to schools in Bolykhamxay province, where Vietnamese students live. On the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of Vietnamese Teachers' Day, the program marked a new step forward when it donated Lao books to students in the suburbs of Vientiane for the first time.

Through the connection of Ekphatthana Microfinance Institution (Laos) and the sponsorship from ITL Group and other benefactors, the program presented Chansavang Primary School with a total of 645 books, 20 scholarships and 50 anti-UV hats, with a total sponsorship value of up to 3,780 USD.

Sharing from the heart

At the ceremony, representatives of the Department of Education and Training of Sikhodtabong district emphasized the role of reading culture in improving the knowledge and learning capacity of the young generation, and expressed their appreciation for the meaningful activities of the Compassionate Bookcase and the House of Wisdom.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Huy - Executive Director of Nhan Ai Bookcase and co-founder of Ngoi Nha Tri Tu shared:

“Laos, like Vietnam, is a low-lying area of reading culture. From my own experience, I understand that self-study is the best way for children in difficult circumstances to rise up in life. To study effectively, children need to develop the habit of reading from a young age. Once they love books, they will not only reduce social evils such as game addiction and addiction to electronic devices, but also be able to seek knowledge, cultivate their personality and build a foundation for lifelong learning. That is the decisive factor for their future.”

Đại diện tập đoàn ITL và ITL Lào trao học bổng cho các em học sinh.

Representatives of ITL Group and ITL Laos awarded scholarships to students.

Mr. Do Duc Hao, Senior Manager of Air Cargo Business, representing ITL Group, said: “For many years, ITL has accompanied the Humanitarian Bookcase to donate books to many localities across Vietnam. We are very pleased to continue to cooperate with TSNA to expand community activities in Laos. Through this activity, we hope to contribute a small part to the development of the Lao community. In addition to daily business activities, ITL's Board of Directors always attaches importance to community activities. Therefore, we hope to carry out more similar activities with TSNA locally in the future.”

Các em học sinh vui mừng với những cuốn sách mới trên tay. Ngoài sách tiếng Lào, chương trình còn tặng thêm sách song ngữ Việt - Anh để các em tham khảo.

The students were delighted with the new books in their hands. In addition to Lao books, the program also gave away Vietnamese-English bilingual books for the students to refer to.

Touched by the attention from the program, Mr. Kongmany Soysomvang, Principal of Chansavang Primary School shared:

“The books not only open up a world of knowledge but also bring love from Vietnamese philanthropists to the students here. We are extremely grateful for this meaningful gift. Please read a lot to develop yourself.”

Các em học sinh vui mừng giao lưu cùng khách quý.

Students happily interacted with guests.

Spreading human values across borders

The Compassionate Bookcase and Wisdom House programs do not only bring knowledge to disadvantaged areas and promote the lifelong learning movement in Vietnam, but also strive to sow the seeds of wisdom and compassion beyond geographical boundaries between countries. Cross-border volunteer activities such as donating books, scholarships, cultural and educational exchanges, and building lifelong learning spaces are clear evidence of profound human values, contributing to building solidarity, sharing knowledge, and creating development opportunities for the young generation globally.

With a vision and specific activities over the past decade, the Humanitarian Bookcase and the House of Wisdom are not only a charity program but also a bridge of culture, knowledge and friendship between Vietnam and countries in the region.

Các thành viên Ngôi nhà Trí tuệ và Tủ sách Nhân ái bên dòng Mekong tại thủ đô Vientaine, Lào; bên kia là nước bạn Thái Lan.

Members of the House of Wisdom and the Humanitarian Bookshelf on the Mekong River in Vientiane, Laos; on the other side is Thailand.

The Humane Bookcase and the House of Wisdom are philanthropic programs in the fields of culture and education, under the Institute of Lifelong Learning. Over the past 8 years of operation, the Humane Bookcase has mobilized, built and donated a network of more than 27,000 bookcases (more than 1.6 million books) in more than 3,200 schools and communities in all 63 provinces and cities nationwide and some provinces in Laos.

Wisdom House has also built and maintained more than 300 lifelong learning spaces in 17 provinces and cities in Vietnam and 5 other countries (Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the US), completely free of charge. The Compassionate Bookcase and Wisdom House have been honored with many domestic and international awards and certificates, including the 2023 US Library of Congress Literacy and Knowledge Dissemination Award, in the category of “Excellent Practice”.

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