About

“Fairytales are more than true – not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” -- Paraphrased by Neil Gaiman from G.K. Chesterton

The value of reading fiction is well-established. Studies have shown that reading fiction stimulates the brain and affects how we live our lives as it has been known to teach people to empathize, and to learn tolerance towards different groups of people. Fiction also teaches children to imagine – not just unrealistic stories of dragons and fairies, but also of alternative lives and future lives that they could aspire to.

Unfortunately, not all children have access to fiction books. Ordinarily, funding for books, if any at all is available, goes to reference books and textbooks. Donations of books usually comprise of storybooks for children, and would rarely sufficiently represent other genres of fiction. In the Philippines, children do not have access to public libraries where they can find fiction books, much less develop and nurture interest in them.

Thus, this project is envisioned in order to give certain groups of marginalized children access to fiction and enable them to imagine a better world.

Objectives

• Set-up a small library of fiction books in an orphanage to inspire children to aspire for great things, despite the dire circumstances they may have been born to.
• Encourage children to read fiction books. 
• Improve the children’s reading comprehension, in English and Filipino.
• Improve the children’s writing skills, in English and Filipino.
• Train older members of the group on how to conduct the read-along sessions/reading lessons.
• Teach the children the value of books. 
• Encourage others to replicate the project in other orphanages or communities.