Creating virtual rooms for Reading and Learning: Changjiji READ Center

The last book that Yeshi Choden read was “Wonders” by R. J. Palacio, a book about strength, resilience, and perseverance.  An ardent reader, she is the Coordinator at the Changjiji READ center. She joined as an intern back in 2013 having always been passionate about working in the community level and reaching out to people.  

READ (Rural Education and Development) Bhutan was established in December 2008 to address the needs of a country that continues to have no public library infrastructure. READ Bhutan is currently the only organization in Bhutan working to build Community Libraries and Resource Centers that are used as platforms for community development initiatives. READ Bhutan has established nine READ Centers in nine districts and currently more than 75,000 Bhutanese people have direct access to these centers. All the READ Centers are located in rural areas of Bhutan with the exception of the READ Model Center, which is located in Changjiji in the capital of Thimphu that serves semi-rural communities surrounding the capital.

Changjiji READ Center was established in 2012 in partnership with the National Housing and Development Corporation Ltd. The READ Center programmes focus on Literacy and Education for all, Women Empowerment, Economic Empowerment and ICT education. The programs also focus on creating a culture of learning for all ages, an important component of every READ Center. All READ Centers’ conduct and facilitate training programs under these focus areas in the communities. Each READ Center offers space for all community members, both men and women, young adults and children to gather, learn and advocate. The center brings together diverse community members to access transformative programs and information that allow them to unlock their potential and grow,

 “With the onset of the pandemic, our activities and classes initially came to a pause. Following restrictions and COVID norms, it was a challenge for our members to visit our centers. But something needed to be done, so we shifted to occupying virtual rooms and conducting our activities and programmes online,” said Yeshi.

The Changjiji READ center conducted virtual book reviews, with their members uploading recorded videos and sharing them on their Facebook page. There were also Read Aloud sessions where members shared videos recordings of people reading stories and books and competitions were held online as an incentive and encouragement. Family members and parents played a strong role in supporting their children with reading and learning. In some villages, parents are more focused on their child’s academic growth and often overlook wholesome education and co-curricular learning. The READ Centers play an important role in these areas in not only educating children but also their parents and offer services that enable a child to grow and learn holistically. With huge challenges in importing books and travel restrictions, READ Bhutan donated several children’s and young adults’ books and subject references to school libraries, reading corners set up by community schools in the rural communities and to VAST Bhutan facilitating book drives for quarantine centers in the country.  The frequency of “Mobile Library Outreach” programs to the communities, providing door to door library services were increased so children could stay home safely and continue to read a good variety of books. With the gradual return and easing of restrictions, literacy programs and other activities for children at the READ Center resumed. The center has recently initiated reading recovery sessions for primary school students at the READ Center and offer after school tutoring programs to help students catch up and thrive.

“It’s difficult to tell about the impact technology and the internet has, but moving our services online had a significant impact and enabled us reach to those interested. We had more participants because people did not have to travel. But at the same time, in villages they normally miss out on these urban opportunities. In most rural areas, the digital divide is apparent, and challenges are being faced. Even with books, most seem to prefer hardcopy books and notebooks or audio books,” said Yeshi.

Recently, it was noted with concern that shelves of bookstores in the country were becoming empty. Adverse situations in our neighboring countries have delayed several orders and the import of books,

“Just when the reading culture in Bhutan started to grow, the virus came. Bookstores are bearing the brunt. But it is a call for us to be adaptive and flexible, and change with the times. We may not find the book that we want to read, but it is a time for us to explore new authors and pick a new book that is available and also shift to audio or ebooks. Reading habits must not be obstructed, so we must find other ways,” said Yeshi.