Man builds library for poor children in Quảng Ngãi Province

The Huế University of Education graduate, who has a master's degree in business administration from Belgium’s Solvay Business School (SBS), considered the library his way of giving back to the village.

“As a person working in marketing, when I started a business project, the first thing I thought about was profit,” said Pháp.

“But for the library project, the profit here is not money but the positive changes that books bring to the children,” he said.

“Then when they grow up, they can bring these good things together to contribute and build their homeland,” he said.

In the last three years, Pháp’ library has become a popular destination for the villagers, especially children.

“This is an open world for them to freely imagine and bring their thoughts and desires out of the difficult village,” said Pháp.

“The library also helps adults easily update interesting and useful knowledge when needed or simply enjoy some after-work recreational time reading books,” he said.

The library is now operated by five young people who are in charge of arranging and preserving books and guiding readers.

Phan Thị Bích Châu, a high-school student in the village said: “The library is the biggest in my hometown.”

“Thanks to Pháp’s library, we - the rural children - have the chance to access interesting books which help enrich our knowledge and beautify our minds,” Châu said.

Meanwhile, Võ Ngọc Quyên, said: “Coming here I had the feeling that everyone was like a member of a family.”

“Pháp really brought positive energy to our life and gives 'wings' for us to fly far on the path of education,” the girl said.

Pháp encourages reading but doesn't want kids to be passive bookworms. He regularly holds mini-seminars with different topics such as photography, life soft skills or how to behave on social networks.

"My joy every day is to see students come here to read after class. I hope the books will help them in learning, growing up to be a person with rich knowledge and beautiful mind,” said Pháp.

“It is important to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas in access to knowledge,” he added.

This small library in the countryside is more than a place for children to read, it's a place for them to grow. — VNS