And a fruit in it

This is the miracle what ‘Jhola Library’ is aiming at. Every student is a teacher and reformer in making. We will help every child recognize their hidden talents and bring it out.

We have faith and hope in the children. We have patience to await the child’s blossoming and fragrance for the benefit of one and all.

In the meantime, we will not sit idle. We shall serve them and try to provide for their growth…yes with your support. Jhola Library or ‘Shoulder bag library’ is an effort to bring books, news and educational videos to the women and children of the deepest remote villages of Uttarakhand.

Taking inspiration from “The Rural Library Project” which aims to help rural communities to establish and run library facilities, we aim to establish a central library and travelling librarians to distribute books, conduct discussions and study classes for rural women and children.

Why does Kashika want to do this project?

In the Garhwal region, women who get married at a young age are forced to quit their studies and made to work in home and agriculture fields. Women, who live in highly scattered villages especially in mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, have limited access to books and other sources for education. Thus, the education of women is greatly affected which in turn affects the education of children. Since these villages are also sparsely populated, it is impractical and expensive to run full-fledged libraries. Along with women, we are also reaching out to school children who don’t have access to libraries.

Building a Central library

As part of the project, a central library will be established and books, videos and magazines will be sourced through individual contributors and other institutions. We intend to source books which covers wide spectrum of literature, arts, science, mathematics, and children’s books in Hindi and English. Along with books, various types of magazines, educational videos, audios and other materials will be part of the library. A qualified librarian will be entrusted with the task of running the library.

From Library to the people

Our travelling librarians will travel with books and other materials every day to all nearby and remote villages, covering each village once a week. Since many of the villages are remote and not reachable by vehicle, the Jhola library (volunteers) will travel by foot and will stay in the village for a day or two and books will be distributed directly to the people. The plan is to systematically cover all the villages, so that it gives direct benefit to the rural women and children.

Not just books

Along with distributing books, we will plan workshops and discussion forums every month in villages to popularize reading and to share experience about books and other materials. We will also collect their own stories and experiences which can be published for future generations. We also plan to exhibit educational videos through projectors

Villages covered by Jhola Library

Capital Expenditure (approx.) for this Project

Variable costs (monthly)

New Horizons

From these modest beginnings, we hope that Kashika’s Jhola Library project will act as a vehicle to transform the families of Garhwal by building their self-esteem and preserving their unique culture.