50 Bookshelves Donated to Students in Quang Ngai’s Mountainous Areas
On July 23–24, 2025, the Compassionate Bookshelf and Wisdom House programs organized book donations and reading culture promotion activities in mountainous communes of Quang Ngai Province. A total of 50 bookshelves were presented to schools, including Son Ha I Primary School (Son Ha Commune), Son Thuy Primary and Secondary School (Son Ha District), Dinh Thanh Khang Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities, and Son Lien Secondary School (Son Tay Thuong Commune).
Despite the summer break, teachers and students enthusiastically joined the ceremonies and engaged with guest speakers. Many students carefully held the newly gifted books, flipping through the pages with joy and excitement.
Nguyen Quoc Huy, Director of the Compassionate Bookshelf program, stated: “We carefully selected books from a wide range of genres, tailored to the reading needs of children in highland areas. The books are written in clear, accessible language with attractive presentation, designed to spark curiosity and nurture a love for reading, helping students form lifelong habits of self-learning and knowledge exploration.”
Vu Nhu Nghia, Principal of Son Ha I Primary School, expressed: “This donation is a meaningful spiritual gift for our teachers and students. We hope the Compassionate Bookshelf will continue to support us in developing reading culture and effectively using these resources to enhance learning and broaden students’ knowledge.”
Nguyen Quyet Chien, Vice Chairman of Son Tay Thuong Commune People’s Committee, also welcomed the initiative: “The program’s timing—right before the Commune Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term—makes this even more meaningful. With 90% of our students coming from ethnic minority communities, reading plays an essential role in ensuring they are not left behind in the era of rapid technological development.”
Alongside the book donations, Nguyen Quoc Huy (Director of Compassionate Bookshelf) and Nguyen Thi Van Anh (Deputy Director of the Institute for Lifelong Learning) held interactive sessions to inspire a passion for reading among students.
The events were also supported by painter Dinh Nhat Tan, a volunteer group from Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, and Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Lan of Mai Lan Anh Company. The group donated 150 gift packages (each worth 500,000 VND) to elderly Hre ethnic residents in Son Ha Commune. Painter Dinh Nhat Tan’s story—of a childhood yearning for books and dreams nurtured through reading—inspired the young audience.
At Dinh Thanh Khang School, members of the Wisdom House network—including Tran Viet Bach, Ha Nhat Minh, and Do Le Chi Hung—joined the event. These young volunteers have long contributed by teaching English for free in rural and disadvantaged areas, while also directly donating books to students.
The Compassionate Bookshelf and Wisdom House are philanthropic initiatives in the fields of culture and education, dedicated to building, sustaining, and expanding free communities of reading, self-study, and lifelong learning. To date, the Compassionate Bookshelf has mobilized and donated over 30,000 bookshelves with more than 2 million books to more than 3,200 schools and communities across Vietnam and several provinces in Laos.
Source: Dai Bieu Nhan Dan Newspaper
Author: Ha Huong
