Project Report
| Jul 5, 2018
Bookgiving in the Province of Aurora
![The first book she gets to call her own!]()
The first book she gets to call her own!
Last May, one of our partners - the Tiny Library Project - gave away 140 copies of our 2-in-1 books to children of the two Agta communities of Casiguran and Dingalan, both in the Province of Aurora, Philippines. These books feature back-to-back stories from CANVAS, "Message in the Sand" and "My Big Sister Can See Dragons."
The Tiny Library Project filed this report, which we are sharing in its fuller and unedited version:
Casiguran is a seven-hour drive from Manila. To reach the Agta community, we had to haul books and supplies from land to banca and back to land again, braving the rising noontime tide of the largest water mass on the planet. Upon receiving their individual copies, the children eagerly opened their books to scan the glossy colored pages.
A read aloud of the story Message in the Sand by Charmaine Aserappa was done by more advanced readers. Each volunteer read one page each of the Filipino version. This was intended to get them actively involved in reading and to have time to address important themes in the story. It also provided the chance to check comprehension and sustain engagement. At first, they were hesitant to read aloud but after providing gentle guidance with difficult words, many hands were raised thereafter. The younger readers followed silently as the story was read. Some just sat and listened.
The children were asked if they too wrote on sand and who could possibly read their messages. After some answers were given, the Tiny Library representative prodded them to think who else can read their messages in the sand. One boy took a few steps forward and answered “God!” He was the pastor’s son. After the read aloud, the children were given pens so they could write their own names on their books.
All of them said they never had a storybook and this was their very first personal copy.
The Agtas in this particular community are hungry for learning and their thirst for knowledge is encouraged by the local pastor from Reaching Beyond Ministries. Despite being an Aeta from Zambales, his leadership is recognized. He is married to the daughter of the former chieftain and the sister of the current one. Husband and wife availed of DepEd’s Alternative Learning System (ALS). It was sad to realize that many children still grow up in an environment devoid of the printed text. This trip reaffirmed Tiny Library’s advocacy to bring books to places where access to reading materials is limited. The book giving activity was a reminder to everyone that people in the margins of society should never be forgotten and that reading literacy should be given priority.
After all, one can never underestimate the power of a book.
Dingalan:
For this group of readers, we focused on Rocky Tirona’s My Big Sister Can See Dragons.
Because of the continuous rainfall and the threat of an imminent river flood, there was no time for storytelling. Instead, we presented the book title and gave a motive question: “Can the big sister really see dragons?” This made the children immediately open their books to find out for themselves.
We went around and learned that majority never had a storybook at home.
We rely on partners like The Tiny Library Project to help us give away the tens of thousands of books that we give away each year, and to provide first hand feedback and affirmation on the genuine appreciation that children - as you've read, most of whom have never owned a storybook - have for books and reading. Children have a natural thirst for learning, and we know and believe that somehow our books are making a difference.
This would not be possible without your continued support and confidence in our work, and we in CANVAS, together with our partners and not least, all the children who benefit, are truly grateful.
Thank you!
![Giving away books in Casiguran]()
Giving away books in Casiguran
![Dingalan children waiting to receive their books]()
Dingalan children waiting to receive their books
![The children with their new books]()
The children with their new books
![Our storybooks help children learn to love books!]()
Our storybooks help children learn to love books!
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