The Education Foundation (EFI) is setting up a series of Bahay Karunungan - "Houses of knowledge" - in the capital and in other parts of the country. Newspapers, magazines and novels, as well as computers and movies made available to public. The centers are open until late evening and are used by students to study and do their homework. EFI president: "The less fortunate are also passionate about reading”.

Manila ( AsiaNews / CBCP ) - The Education Foundation ( EFI ), a Filipino Catholic group that campaigns for better education, has opened a series of public libraries called Bahay Karunungan - "House of Knowledge" in the local language - in degraded areas of Manila and throughout the country. As pointed out by Naomi A. David, EFI President, the goal of the initiative is to support and motivate learning, even and especially in the most disadvantaged populations, through reading. Like the more traditional libraries, the Bahay Karunungan have the most popular books and bestsellers, as well as books about religion, magazines, newspapers and various other manuscripts. There are also computers available to the public, so readers can consult digital material and use the internet.

"Setting up public libraries in poor communities - said the Catholic leader - is part of our commitment to literacy, to providing the urban poor population groups and communities across the country with books, while encouraging them to read". The element that differentiates the Catholic "Houses of knowledge" with respect to traditional libraries is the emphasis on "formation" that is at the base of the foundation, administered by lay people with great care.

EFI promotes the project with the support of partners who share the ideals and commitment that animates the Catholic group: educating people, especially the poorest. They contribute to the preparation of the facilities, the purchase of reading material and equipment.

Funds and materials are also supplied by individual benefactors or small groups, "who care about learning", said Naomi A. David, but the guidelines for the management and the basic philosophy are the prerogative of the foundation. "This is not the usual library that we grew up in. It serves as a reading and learning center for the community", she adds. And every material - magazine, book, newspaper - is carefully assessed before appearing on the she Books, magazines, and other reading materials are reviewed first before admission into the library.

Unlike conventional libraries, Bahay Karunungan does not follow the standard office hours of 8am to 5am. It opens from 11am until early evening to accommodate students after school and other people after work. The Bahay Karunungan are also available to poor students, a place where they can do their homework in peace and take advantage of the equipment and materials available.

Other activities offered by the EFI libraries are movies and TV series that promote Christian values ​​and virtues, as well as debates and discussions on key issues that affect people's lives. The response has been very positive, concludes the president, confirming that not only the rich, but also among the most vulnerable and poorest of society the hunger for literacy and knowledge is strong.

 

• PHILIPPINES
• Manila
• education
• Catholic
• foundation
• public
• libraries
• poor