On 14 June 2022, the Embassy of Israel in Vietnam and 2017 Miss Universe Vietnam H’Hen Niê handed over a friendly library to an elementary school in the mountainous province of Lai Chau. The school of Phuc Than commune, Than Uyen district, is one of the two places to receive the library and reading culture program in Lai Chau, with the other constructed in Phong Tho district.

The friendly library built into a container donated by the Israeli shipping company ZIM, is located at the San Bay village campus, 90km south of Lai Chau city. 96 pupils from grades 1-4, predominantly of Thai ethnicity, study at the campus, which was previously confronted by the shortage of library and limited amount of books. Although extra curriculum reading hours took place, according to the school leadership, reading encouragement and professional library work is suffering from lack of investment.

The library donated by the Israeli Embassy and H’Hen Niê was established with brand new children books and reading room facilities. Within the framework of the program, the school will receive technical support from the Room to Read NGO to operate the libraries and organize reading classes for pupils. After 2 years, a review of the program’s effectiveness will be conducted.

The program is hoped to promote sustainable reading and a reading culture in Lai Chau’s mountainous areas, from initial infrastructures to personnel and library organization.

This marks the second occasion that the Israeli Embassy together with H’Hen Niê present such friendly libraries to mountainous primary schools. The two donated similar libraries to Meo Vac and Bac Me districts of Ha Giang in January 2022.

The Embassy of Israel has had numerous activities related to intellectuals and books in Vietnam, including its support to publish around 10 Israeli books on science, literature, history, research along with book seminars and book giveaways. Meanwhile, H’Hen Niê has built libraries, presented books, supported in education for girls in various localities such as Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Tra Vinh with her role as an inspirational ambassador of Room to Read.