The Library Project donated a library to Hou Wan Elementary School on June 17, 2008. Hou Wan Elementary School is located in rural Ziyang County in the Shaanxi Province of China. There are 17 students, grades 1-3 that attend Hou Wan Elementary School. Most of the student’s parents work locally as farmers.

Hou Wan Elementary School is one of forty-three “Level 3” elementary schools in Ziyang County. A Level 3 elementary school is the lowest level that a school can hold in China. This usually means that it is under-funded, remote, and has few educational resources found at the school.

Hou Wan Elementary School sits near the peak of a mountain in the Da Ba Mountains, one of the largest mountain ranges in China. It is accessible via a winding dirt road. The school construction is a single building of brick and cement.

Hou Wan Elementary School has an incredible school Principal who also acts as the only teacher. Mr. Du teaches all three classes in one single classroom.

During our Pre Assessment we found that Hou Wan Elementary School did not have a library, or any books that could be used as a secondary curriculum.

On June 17, 2008, The Library Project provided 400 Chinese language children’s books for grades 1-3, a colorful bookshelf, a globe and a plant. We provided a wide range of children’s books that include: history, science, short stories, fairy tales, books for very young readers, children’s dictionaries, children’s reference books, and an assortment of comic books. Hou Wan Elementary School also received a full set of children’s encyclopedias. Every book was in full color and of the highest quality.

After the book donation, the students participated in arts, crafts and games as a celebration. Everyone had a great time.

Mr. Du then participated in The Library Project’s Librarian Training Program. This is an intensive one-hour course on how to manage a library. The Librarian Training covers how to check books in and out, a few activities and games, and how the books can be used as teaching aids during regular classes.

Without a doubt The Library Project has improved the level of education that Hou Wan Elementary School provides to its students.

To learn more about Hou Wan Elementary School, please download the detailed Library Completion Report by clicking here.

If you would like to get more involved, please contact Tom Stader, The Library Project founder, at tom@library-project.org.