A children’s mobile library run by a Japanese expat in northern Thailand has become more important than ever during the coronavirus pandemic.
(14 Jul 2021) Horiuchi Yoshimi sees books as “friends” for the youngsters in the remote, rural areas she visits. The 37-year-old remembers how reading shaped her own childhood. Born with weak eyesight, Horiuchi became blind during high school. She had always loved books, thanks to her grandfather who read to her as a child. So Horiuchi taught herself Braille so she could continue to read. She says this helped her to learn about the world.
In 2010, she decided to act by setting up an organization for her activities that became later the non-profit Bookworm Foundation. Its first project was to create the Rang Mai library in Chiang Mai province. Thanks to donations and corporate support, the Foundation now has more than 10,000 books.
NHK WORLD-JAPAN has the story in full and video here.
