Provide library books for orphans in India

World’s Children has provided recreational reading books, encyclopedias and bookshelves to 35 orphanages and one school, bringing the joy of reading to over 2,745 children.

In this project update we want to share a thank you note from one of the children and one from an orphanage-school administrator so you can see two perspectives. Both letters highlight the benefits of the It Just Takes a Spark Library Project that provides recreational reading books for fun and reference books for knowledge.

Dear Donors,

I’m very happy about having a library. We are enjoying reading the books. They have nice stories that are interesting. We are reading the books every day. I like stories. Thank you for giving us the library. —Soumya, orphan in India orphanage supported by World's Children

Our Dear Library Donors,

We are extremely grateful to you for funding the Library project for the benefit of the students, residing in our orphanage, which we are running to cater to the educational need of backward, tribal, downtrodden, semi orphan and rural children with the aim of providing a home, where they can get a good education.

Now they have a new school syllabus with project work for each subject, that requires a lot of reference work. Hence the Library project you have funded is of a very great timely help. With the funds you have contributed, we have purchased three book shelves and 210 books of different categories like: general knowledge, encyclopedias, short stories, science, life histories of great men, and nature.

The students are extremely happy with the books. We arranged timings for each class to go to library and do their reference work. Now, it has become a comfortable place to live, to love and to learn. Your generous gift will be of good use to our students for many years and they'll think of your generosity throughout their life. –administrator for orphanage with school

Thank you for your kind support of this project. World's Children will continue to add library books to the 36 libraries we have started at orphanages and schools and create new libraries as generous support permits.

 “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” —Garrison Keillor

About the Free School for Poor Village Children in India

The S.S. Prasanthi School in Andhra Pradesh, India provides a free education, uniforms, and lunch to 220 poor village children.  The Prasanthi School is an ecologically sustainable institution and is a model school for rural India as global warming reduces available ground water and resources. Much of the school’s water comes from a roof-top rainwater harvesting system. Drinking water is treated with a solar powered reverse osmosis water filter. Waste water from the washrooms is passed through an organic septic system and then used to grow rice, peanuts and vegetables on the school grounds.

The entire school was built with compressed earth bricks rather than kiln-fired bricks, thereby reducing air pollution and saving valuable trees. Circular, domed classrooms break architectural style and a state-of-the-art computer lab ensures the students – who are from poor farming families – will gain the same knowledge as children from privileged middle class homes.

But in spite of their state of the art sustainability, there were empty bookshelves in their library; they lacked a key element in their students’ education.

Watch this short video to see how we fulfilled their need.

In an effort to jumpstart their library, World’s Children paid for a set of knowledge books, each on a different topic, to broaden the children’s world view. The photos of the children enjoying these new books tells the story.

We are grateful to all who have contributed to this project and to creating a spark for the love of learning through reading. World's Children will continue to provide library books to the 35 libraries we have started at orphanages and schools.

Links:

• Library Project Video and more about World's Children