A retired accountant in Manila builds a lending library at home, inspiring children to read and fostering a love of books.

Manila

A retired accountant in Manila, Nani Wanlao, has converted his garage into a makeshift library open to everyone. Visitors, ranging from schoolchildren to college students and community members, are welcome to borrow, donate, and exchange books freely. 

Wanlao's initiative comes amid a national literacy crisis, with studies indicating that many Filipino children struggle with reading comprehension. To extend his impact, he collaborates with local organizations to distribute books to remote provinces and regularly visits nearby schools to provide reading materials to students in need. His efforts are seen as a hopeful response to the country's ongoing educational challenges.

Filipino retiree turns home into free library

On any given day, people from all walks of life visit this makeshift library in Manila. Curious grade schoolers, a college student searching for textbooks, a cyclist inquiring how to donate books. Everyone's welcome. Welcome to browse, give, and take books as they please. When Nani Wanlao turned his garage into a library, he set out with just one rule, to promote reading. Usually we get this habit by going to school. But how about those in the remote areas who are deprived of the facilities of the school? So they have to read. That mission has never been more urgent. In 2022, a study by the World Bank found that 90% of Filipino children still struggle to read simple text by the age of 10. And in May, a Government Commission survey showed nearly 19 million Filipinos can read but have difficulty comprehending. The Philippines' Education Secretary says the country is facing a literacy crisis. Let's not forget that the students who are now in the 4th to 6th grades hardly had any interactions with teachers during pandemic. So they need help to catch up with reading skills. Nani says this means his library needed to reach the far ends of the country. So in recent years, he's been working with local organizations to ship books to provinces. And one of the simplest ways Nani has expanded his library's reach is by regularly visiting schools around his neighborhood, such as this elementary school, and distributing books to young students who may need help with basic reading skills. While this 1st grader was able to read most of the letters, she couldn't string the letters together to read the word TREES. But Nani says there is hope. He sees it every time he gets here with a bag full of books and leaves with each one of them in the hands of willing learners. Barnabilo, Aljazeera, Manila.

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