Implementing agencies

RAINBOWSCHOOL

• Category

  PROJECT

• Date time

  FROM 2022 TO PRENSENT

• Field

  QUALITY EDUCATION

Based on the perspective that "Every child is a talent! And children everywhere deserve better developmental conditions, regardless of whether they are in mountainous or rural areas, cities, or plains. Let children play, read, explore, and nurture their dreams to become the colors they aspire to be," the community project in the form of a mobile library called the "Spring Library" has become a bridge to help ethnic minority children aged 3 to 11 in remote villages and schools access books and engage in enjoyable and educational activities such as painting, playing chess, and solving puzzles. The "Spring Library" project not only delivers books to schools and villages but also brings hope for a brighter future to the children.

Since its establishment in June 2022, the "Spring Library" project has served 50 schools in remote areas, benefiting over 15,000 children, and donated 12,000 books in the form of "rainbow bookshelves" installed in each classroom.

Part 1

Starting background of the project

Pham Thanh Tuan, the founder of the "Spring Library," participated in the charity project "Library to Village," which aims to donate books from urban areas to schools in disadvantaged remote villages in Dak Lak Province. However, accessing these schools was extremely challenging due to poor road conditions—dusty and foggy in the dry season, and muddy and impassable during the rainy season.

During that time, Tuan thought to himself, "If only there were a book truck navigating the muddy roads to deliver books and gifts to the children." In June 2022, a yellow truck called "Spring Library," adorned with a rainbow symbol, made its first journey to the Ea Sol School in Ea Hleo, Dak Lak, where 100% of the students belong to the Ede and Ja-rai ethnic minorities.

Since then, the "Spring Library" has grown into a community project dedicated to promoting the reading culture and delivering books to villages in the Central Highlands, serving ethnic minority children.

Part 2

Project innovation/ invention

Tuan's team selected books and comics throughout each trip as Tuan gradually realized that children in remote areas struggle with reading, while ethnic minority children face even greater challenges over time.

However, he noticed that the children remained indifferent. Therefore, he asked them if they would like to choose a present from three options: books, candy, or toys. Sixty percent of them chose "toys." This is why the "Spring Library" trucks are filled with toys, snacks, educational gifts, and even Legos, chess sets, and more alongside the books. This approach gives children the opportunity to learn and enjoy games they consider "luxury gifts."

To keep the engagement method from becoming monotonous, Tuan and his colleagues in the "Spring Library" project developed an activity model centered around books, with seven experiential activities themed around them. Each activity is named after a color, and together they represent the seven colors of the rainbow. As a result, the "Spring Library" truck is also known as the "Rainbow School," where classes are held under trees with no desks, no chairs, and no rules—just the smiles and joy of the children.

During their study, the children sit in a circle to read, guided by a volunteer. Afterward, they write or draw their impressions before heading to the "Spring Library" truck to receive a gift. Mr. Tuan refers to this approach as "reading encouragement." He doesn't force all the children to participate. Those who prefer to play can go to the chess area, build with Legos, or color.

Additionally, at each school where the "Spring Library" bus stops, Tuan and his team donate a "Rainbow Bookcase" comprising 100-150 books.

Part 3

Goals and vision of the project

Goals

By 2025: The project aims to provide and equip 150 rainbow bookcases and conduct 200 experiential activities centered around books for 100 schools in remote and challenging areas of the Central Highlands.

By 2026: To Become a pioneering enterprise that creates social impact in the field of education in the Central Highlands

The long-term goal is to address 'Quality Education' in Vietnam, which is Goal No. 4 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Vision

Through rainbow bookcases and experiential activities focused on books, alongside the learning-and-play method, the Spring Library aspires to enhance the quality of education and become a global education project with the philosophy: "Let children become the color they want".

Part 4

Implementation - Scope - Cost of the project 

Implementation 

Since June 2024, the "Spring Library" truck model has been implemented, thereby helping children through:

Learning through books: equipping school sites with "rainbow bookcases". Each bookcase contains 100-150 children's books and stories.

Experiential learning: Creating experiential activity programs around books, including reading books, writing reflections, playing chess, coloring & painting "my dream", playing Lego, workshop/handmade, such as recycling plastic bottles, making reading cards, bracelets, etc., screening mobile films with inspirational animated films (Upcoming activities include 3D printing, learning about the solar system, kaleidoscopes, creating comics, and more.

Scope

Children aged 3-11 in remote villages and schools in the Central Highlands

Cost

10 million VND per school site per 100 students per year, including

3-5 million VND for 1 rainbow bookcase of 150 books

2-3 million VND for 1 set of basic items (paint, paintbrush, Lego, chess, scissors, pen, etc.)

Part 5

Achievements 

The "Library of Joy" has sown the seeds of childhood dreams among children of ethnic minorities and those in remote areas, therefore, those seeds will germinate in the future. Children from the villages confidently step into the broader world instead of getting married at the age of 13 or 14 and living in poverty for the rest of their lives.

Part 6

Model expansion potential

1. The primary potential of the "Spring Library" mobile truck model lies in its focus on children, who will choose how and what they want to experience. With the rainbow bookcase and experiential programs revolving around books and the learning-through-play method, children are not confined to four walls. Instead, classes can take place anywhere they choose, allowing them to freely engage in activities such as reading, drawing and playing. All project investments are dedicated to enhancing children's experience.
2. Additionally, to help the project expand and develop, it is essential to support instructors, books, and supplies, and 3 important resources for the children's experience and to maintain the project across various schools and villages:

• Instructors must be passionate about children, love reading, and be capable to inspire and guide children in book-related activities. These individuals can be volunteers from local organizations.
• Books in the rainbow bookcase should be richly illustrated with various images and few words to attract children.
• In addition to paints and craft materials, items that can be used locally, such as plastic bottles, broken tires, leaves, and stones from streams.

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