The day the children got to touch the books

Summary

The video shares a heartwarming story about a homework center in Sarawak, dedicated to helping marginalized children. The narrator recounts how a friend from Kuala Lumpur introduced them to an opportunity to distribute books in a remote village. Upon delivering the books, the children, initially hesitant due to school rules preventing them from touching new books, were overjoyed, even smelling the books with excitement. The narrator reflects on the unexpected journey that led to a reading club, finding immense fulfillment in witnessing the children's joy and passion for learning, a treasure beyond material wealth.

Takeaways

• 😀 A decade ago, the speaker ran a homework center in Sarawak to help marginalized children from the cities.
• 😀 A close friend from KL offered books to the homework center, and the first donation was from a village called Power Campaign Camp in Sarawak.
• 😀 Upon delivering the books, the speaker was shocked to see children standing around, unsure why they were waiting.
• 😀 The adults explained that children were not allowed to touch books in school due to dirty fingernails, even though the books were brand new.
• 😀 The children struggled to take the books, so the team began handing them out directly to make the process easier.
• 😀 The first reaction of the children when they received the books was to smell them, which was unexpected but heartwarming.
• 😀 The speaker did not initially plan on creating a reading-based initiative or going out to villages, but the project naturally evolved.
• 😀 The weekly visits to villages became a source of joy and encouragement, particularly from the smiles of the children.
• 😀 The children's excitement when receiving new books was invaluable, and the speaker emphasized that such moments were priceless.
• 😀 The speaker’s sense of fulfillment came not from monetary reward but from the joy and thrill of the children's happiness over their new books.

Q & A

What was the initial purpose of the homework center mentioned in the script?

The initial purpose of the homework center was to help marginalized children in Sarawak, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, by providing support for their education.

How did the idea of distributing books to children come about?

The idea of distributing books came from a close friend who knew someone giving away books. She asked if the homework center needed books, which led to the distribution to the children in the villages.

What was the reaction of the children when they received the books?

The children were very excited and curious about the books. The first thing they did was smell the books, which indicated a strong sense of novelty and wonder.

Why were the children hesitant to take the books initially?

The children were hesitant to take the books because, in their schools, they were not allowed to touch books that were considered too pristine due to their 'dirty fingernails,' as explained by some of the adults in the village.

What does the act of children smelling the books signify?

The act of smelling the books signifies a deep appreciation and fascination with something so new and unfamiliar to them, showing how much they valued the opportunity to have access to books.

How did the volunteers help the children with the books?

The volunteers helped by physically handing the books to the children, overcoming their initial hesitation and ensuring they had access to the books.

What was the emotional impact of the book distribution on the children?

The book distribution had a profound emotional impact on the children, bringing smiles to their faces and filling them with excitement, showing how much they valued the opportunity to own books.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'money cannot buy' the joy the children felt?

The speaker means that the happiness and fulfillment the children experienced from receiving the books were priceless and couldn't be bought with money. It was about the joy of having something meaningful and valuable.

How did the speaker feel about the ongoing work with the children in the villages?

The speaker felt encouraged and inspired by the ongoing work, as they found joy in going out every week to see the children’s smiles and excitement. The work was fulfilling and motivating.

What was the significance of the books being brand new in the context of the village schools?

The brand-new condition of the books was significant because, in the village schools, the children were not allowed to touch such books due to the belief that their fingernails would dirty them, which made the opportunity to receive new books particularly special.