THE CHALLENGE
In many remote and rural parts of Vietnam, especially in underserved provinces, children have limited or no access to public libraries. Spending on libraries is uneven and often insufficient—while provincial-level libraries receive modest funding, commune-level libraries frequently receive none, leaving entire areas without structured reading spaces (Vietnam News, 2019). Rural students typically read only one or two books per year apart from required textbooks, compared to their urban peers who read 20–30, reflecting a severe lack of literacy resources and exposure to diverse reading materials (Better Life Vietnam, n.d.). Without well-stocked libraries, children’s opportunities for learning, imagination, and academic growth are severely limited.
Our Response
Help build a community library
We supported Mr. Chuyen Mai, a local teacher, to open a community-led library named the Wisdom House in his home in Hiệp Hưng Hamlet, Quảng Hiệp Commune, Cư M’gar District, Đắk Lắk Province —creating an intimate, grassroots reading hub where children can gather and learn. This library is especially important in a rural area where public libraries are absent, giving children access to books, stories, and a safe space that would otherwise not exist.
In 2024, Green Kites International Association (GKIA) organised international book and toy drives across three countries. In Australia, through school reading groups and community networks, we collected more than 300 English and French children’s books, along with hundreds of new or near-new toys. In the United States, we invited financial donations to support the expansion of our initiatives. In Vietnam, we promoted the drive through Facebook groups and local media outlets.
The response was truly remarkable. Not only did we receive a substantial number of books and toys, but the cost of international transportation was also generously covered by a local logistics company, enabling all donated items to reach their destination.
In 2025, GKIA supplied English textbooks for the community library, covering the Australian Years 7–12 curriculum, helping students access age-appropriate learning materials and strengthening English-language education in the community.
GKIA supplied more than 300 English and French books to the community-led library in Hiệp Hưng Hamlet, Quảng Hiệp Commune, Cư M’gar District, Đắk Lắk Province
Our Impact
The donation of 538 textbooks — 520 to the Primary School of Krông Klang in Quảng Trị and 18 to high school students in Đắk Lắk — was an important step in supporting education in these rural areas, ensuring that students have access to quality learning materials This effort underscores the importance of fostering equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their ethnic background or geographic location.
References
Vietnam News (2019) Public libraries struggle to attract readers. Available at: https://vietnamnews.vn/society/507746/public-libraries-struggle-to-attract-readers.html (Accessed: 24 August 2025).
Better Life Vietnam (n.d.) Books Library – The Need for Classroom Libraries. Available at: https://betterlifevietnam.org/books-library.html (Accessed: 24 August 2025).
