During the summer, many people might be using air-conditioned cafes or libraries, enjoying a good book.
How many books do you read in a month?
In contrast to the US, where we can easily visit a nearby library whenever we feel like reading,
many underprivileged countries face challenges in accessing books.
Today, we are excited to share the story of the ‘Library Supply Project’ for Kazakhstan children.
Thanks to the support from Shinhan Card, Gfoundation was able to accomplish this project.
Since 2021, Gfoundation and Shinhan Card have been partnering on many initiatives, starting with the sustainable hygiene kit support project for vulnerable youth and women abroad.
This partnership offered healthy cultural experiences for the information-excluded population in Kazakhstan.
We renovated the space within Keymap University in Almaty, to create an Arumin library.
By the way, have you heard of the “Arumin Library”?
“Arumin Library” is a social contribution program by Shinhan Card, which has been providing underprivileged children and teenagers with the right to read books, dream, and cultivate their imaginations in a positive environment since 2010.
Since 2015, this project has expanded to include diverse age groups, aiming to foster a reading culture environment for not only children and teenagers, but also local residents.
It supports customized libraries for various nonprofit organizations, such as local children’s centers,
community welfare centers, and children’s hospitals, making them more comfortable cultural spaces.
Currently, they have also established digital libraries, where people can freely access various digital educational content through learning materials such as e-books and tablet PCs.
These digital libraries contribute to narrowing the digital divide for socially vulnerable groups.
Our mission has been implementing various projects to support disadvantaged children and teenagers overseas, including establishing libraries,
after-school reading and discussion programs, and mobile library support programs in countries like Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Cambodia.
In Kazakhstan, despite the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the educational environment, educational disparities persist, particularly in rural areas.
Gfoundation and Shinhan Card collaborated to establish the Arumin Library in Kazakhstan.
We renovated the space within Keymap University in Almaty, which is about 350 square feet, previously used as a way for students to learn about Korean fairy tales and books.
Now, it has transformed into a dedicated library with over 1,500 Korean language books donated by Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE).
This space benefits not only enrolled students but also residents.
We want to express our gratitude for your ongoing interest and support, which brought happiness to the children in underprivileged countries.
As we move forward, we humbly request your continuous love and attention so that our children can continue to dream about their future through reading.
