Transport firm in Manila converts old bus into a public mobile library

• A transport company converted one of its old buses into a mobile library to promote the value of reading among children aged six to seven years old.
• Five Star Bus Company partnered with Kasama ng Hulma Foundation in the project.
• The project aims to travel to public elementary schools across the country and teach children how to read.

MANILA, Philippines—A transport company in the Philippines has transformed one of its old buses into a mobile library that will visit public schools from selected provinces to promote literacy among the youth.

Five Star Bus Company partnered with Hulma Foundation in launching Lakbay Aklatan (Traveling Library) last Monday in Laoang, Tarlac to showcase the project to some public school students.

“Nais naming i-promote ang reading proficiency sa mga kabataan kaya naisip naming i-convert ang isa sa aming mga bus upang magig silid-aklatan na maglalakbay sa iba’t ibang pampublikong paaralan sa Pilipinas,” Five Star said in its Facebook account.

(We would like to promote reading proficiency among children, hence we thought of converting one of our buses into a library which could drop by public schools across the Philippines.)

“Kasama ng Hulma Foundation, layunin naming gawing mas laganap sa mga kabataang 6-7 taong gulang ang pagbabasa,” it added.

(In partnership with Hulma Foundation, we are aiming to promote among children aged 6 to 7 years old the value of reading.)

While it looks like an ordinary bus on the outside, the mobile library contains books which were mostly donated by individuals and staffed by three tutors who teach reading to kids.

Lakbay Aklatan is set to visit four schools in Tarlac: Laoang Elementary School, San Juan de Valdez Elementary School, Mapalad Elementary School, and Carangian Elementary School. 

Alex Hernandez, the project’s corporate social responsibility manager, told Coconuts Manila that each school will have to choose at least 40 students, between six and seven years old, to be taught by the tutors inside the bus. Most of those chosen are kids who can barely read.

“We’re focusing on teaching reading because it’s the foundation of everything. How can you study math or Philippine history if you can’t read a book or understand instructions? Our measurement of success is when the children’s skills have improved,” Hernandez said.

Photos from Lakbay Aklatan’s Facebook page

Source: Coconuts