Le tuk-tuk (ou rickshaw) vif et coloré qui sillonne les routes de Battambang est un véritable phare itinérant, porteur d'espoir pour le développement des communautés les plus reculées de la province. Lancée en 2019 puis redynamisée avec succès en 2023, la bibliothèque mobile Phare-Nomura apporte des livres aux enfants qui en ont le plus besoin, pour apprendre et se divertir.
Photo credit: Supplied
Growing Our Impact
Alimentée par notre bibliothèque principale, installée sur le campus de Phare et fréquentée par plus de 500 visiteurs par mois, la bibliothèque mobile Phare-Nomura comble le fossé éducatif pour les familles vivant trop loin des écoles traditionnelles. En se rendant sur le terrain chaque jeudi et vendredi, nos équipes encouragent des habitudes de lecture durables et offrent une alternative dynamique et positive au temps d'écran excessif.
Selon KONG Kunthea, notre responsable de l'éducation, les contraintes de financement et de ressources n'ont pas permis d'étendre géographiquement le projet à de nouvelles communes cette année.
Nous avons cependant développé d’autres approches stratégiques pour renforcer notre impact :
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- Une collaboration stratégique : nous nous sommes associés à une organisation de la province de Battambang pour mener les activités de la bibliothèque mobile directement au sein de deux de ses centres, ce qui nous permet de toucher des enfants et des parents vulnérables dans notre zone d'action actuelle.
- Des racines profondes dans les communautés : dans nos zones de couverture habituelles, les chefs locaux de Chamkar Samrong et d'Ochar ont rapporté un taux de participation exceptionnel de 90 % des enfants dans 11 villages.
- Un engagement constant : chaque sortie communautaire ciblée rassemble aujourd'hui en moyenne 30 enfants et parents qui participent activement aux sessions d'apprentissage.
Core Activities: Where Literacy Meets the Arts
What makes this project unique is how it weaves foundational education with the magic of the arts. It isn't just about handing out books; it’s about arriving with a carefully curated toolkit designed to spark reading fluency, critical thinking, and artistic self-expression.
Reading Fluency & Cultural Pride
Guided by our passionate educators and mobile librarians, children learn to read fluently and confidently. Crucially, our books help preserve Cambodian history and cultural traditions. To build these skills, our mobile repository brings a wide variety of reading materials, including short illustrated storybooks, traditional folktales, levelled books for all reading stages, and fundamental skill-builders. The impact stretches straight into the heart of the home: "Education does not happen only in schools; when a family becomes a child's first library, it creates the strongest foundation. A teacher’s greatest happiness is seeing a love of learning blossom within the family."
The "Mobile Library STEAM" & Visual Arts
We continue to put the "A" (Arts) in STEM education. Our team introduces hands-on visual arts lessons, supplying drawing paper, colouring pages, pencils, paints, and craft tools. Beyond pure art, we unpack dedicated educational games like puzzles, flashcards, analytical thinking games, and building blocks to strengthen both logic and core social skills.
Performing Arts & Social Impact
The energy reaches a peak when students from the Phare Performing Arts School take the stage. Providing short theatrical sketches, circus arts, dance, classical music, and clowning, these performances keep the children engaged while subtly educating the audience on critical social topics. Storytime is also elevated using specialised visual tools, including oversized Big Books and a traditional Wooden TV box (Kamishibai paper theatre).
Photo credit: Supplied
Overcoming Challenges & Finding Inspiration
Running a library on wheels comes with its own unique set of obstacles. Weather changes bring tough conditions—from rainy season downpours to extreme dry season heat. Furthermore, economic hardships in some villages mean parents must occasionally send their children to work for wages during their free time.
Yet, the motivation to keep pushing forward remains unshakeable.
"The most encouraging moment is when we arrive and see children running toward us with big smiles, eagerly waiting to welcome our tuk-tuks. When they ask enthusiastically, 'Teacher, when will you come again? I want to continue reading this book…' and you see the excitement in their bright, sparkling eyes; it reminds us why this work matters." — Ren Reaksa, Mobile Librarian
This vital work is sustained by the deep trust of parents, community members, and local authorities who consistently help gather the children.
Driving the Mission Forward
None of this would be possible without the custom-designed mobile library vehicle—originally a brand-new rickshaw generously sponsored by the Nomura Group and painted by talented teachers from the Phare Visual and Applied Arts School.
Behind the scenes, the tireless dedication of our core team continues to drive this mission:
- Kong Kunthea (Education Manager)
- Hout Kimhang (Mobile Librarian)
- Ren Reaksa (Mobile Librarian)
Photo credit: Supplied
Looking to the Future
Supported by our incredible global community of donors, we are moving ahead with plans to digitalise our library database, upgrade our educational technology, and provide advanced professional training for our librarian staff.
Photo credit: Supplied
Thank you to everyone who reads, performs, drives, and supports the Phare-Nomura Mobile Library. Here’s to many more miles of smiles!
Visit Phare Ponleu Selpak—and discover how art can change lives.
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Explore more blog posts related to: #ArtForSocialImpact, #ArtsAndLiteracy, #CambodiaEducation, #CommunityTransformation, #EducationForChange, #LiteracyOnWheels, #MobileLibrary, #PhareArts, #PharePonleuSelpak, Battambang
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