A container library was opened at Phúc Than Primary School in Than Uyên District, the northern province of Lai Châu. Photo courtesy of the Israeli Embassy in Việt Nam

LAI CHÂU --The Israeli Embassy and Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 H'Hen Niê on Tuesday opened a container library for students in Phúc Than Primary School in Than Uyên District, the northern province of Lai Châu.

This is the second time the embassy and H'Hen Niê offered such libraries to primary students in mountainous areas. 

In January this year, they handed over two libraries in the Mèo Vạc and Bắc Mê districts of Hà Giang Province.

The library was set up in a container sponsored by the Israeli shipping company ZIM and transported from the seaport. The container was turned into a library for 96 Thai students from the school site of Airport Village, Phúc Than Commune. 

Besides books and reading room equipment, the school has its teachers trained in library management skills and organised reading activities for children in the classroom designed by the non-governmental organisation Room to Read. 

After two years, the library's operation will be checked and evaluated.

According to the school's representative, despite the lack of facilities and the limited number of storybooks, the students are excited about the school's extracurricular reading hours.

The new library is expected to help children have more convenient and orderly access to books, with professional guidance from qualified teachers and librarians.

Israeli Ambassador Nadav Eshcar said that students in remote areas like Lai Châu did not have conditions or even a room to make a library. 

"We brought a library here to give the children a better chance for the future,” he said.

H'Hen Niê said that when opening a library she wanted it would be a place for children to have opportunities for entertainment and open-mindedness. 

"This place will stimulate the spirit of reading in children. If children keep that spirit until they grow up, it will make me extremely happy," she said.

Abraham Elias, CEO of ZIM Việt Nam, said that as an Israeli company operating in Việt Nam for more than 20 years, they believed this educational project was a sustainable way to contribute to the community.

The Israeli Embassy has held many activities on books and learning in Việt Nam, including supporting the publication of about 10 Israeli books on science, literature, and history, as well as book seminars and donations.

H'Hen Niê has established many libraries, donated books, and supported education for female students in many localities such as Đắk Lắk, Lâm Đồng and Trà Vinh as an ambassador of Room to Read. VNS