HAPI Reading Room Receives Books from Humanist Global Charity
By Glemir Sordilla
HAPI Scholar
“One of the greatest gifts adults can give—to their offspring and to their society—is to read to children.” – Carl Sagan
In their quest to champion and prioritize secular education and critical thinking, Humanist Alliance Philippines, International and Humanist Global Charity (HCG) recently partnered to provide more books for the HAPI-Alabang Reading Room. Mutya Valenzuela, HAPI CFO, helped facilitate the success of the HGC’s grant offer. Glemir Sordilla, HAPI Scholar and member of HGC’s Youth Committee, was also instrumental to the collaboration.
The HAPI-Alabang Reading Room is a youth-centered project that aims to teach them humanistic values. The Reading Room has witnessed plenty of progressive and heartwarming events throughout its existence, from a celebration of National Children’s Month to being a space of joy and learning for many kids.
Books are the most obvious and delightful purchase for this grant. After all, what is a Reading Room without books, right? The majority of us associate books with knowledge and power; thus, it goes without saying that HAPI Reading will benefit from additional and new books that cater to the youngsters of Alabang.
Valenzuela tirelessly researched and contacted the people involved to scope the much-needed learning materials for this. When asked about the feeling of finally securing the grant, Valenzuela said that this is not the first time HGC funded HAPI projects. “[W]hen Glemir offered us to send a proposal to help our Reading Room, we knew this was our chance. But of course, [these things] are not always easy,” she opined. “When we received an email from HGC informing us that we secured the grant, we were so thankful! Getting the grant means that HGC believes in our advocacy.”
HAPI-Alabang kids Joey Camaso and Annielyn Clarion expressed excitement for the coming books, telling HAPI that this will be their first library experience. The Assistant Lead Convenor of HAPI Alabang, Jhing Dedicatoria also extended her gratitude to HGC for this opportunity.
The books that were purchased encompass diverse and colorful topics. Some of the titles include:
- “You Are Enough (A Book of Inclusion)” by Margaret O’Hair;
- “Atheism for Kids” by Jessica Thorpe;
- “Curious Questions and Answers About the Solar System” by Ian Graham;
- “The World Made of Rainbow” by Michelle Robinson;
- “Humanism, What’s That? A Book for Curious Kids” by Hellen Bennett;
- “Hello World! Solar System” by Jill McDonald;
- “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller;
- and “Elle the Humanist” by Elle Harris.
These critically-acclaimed books have aided children in many parts of the world through their journey to become humanists. Gratefully, HAPI-Alabang Kids are going to have this experience as well. Through the generous hearts of people from HGC, the aforementioned books will offer new adventures to the children just by flipping the pages.
