Nothing Like Reading

How nice to read… there is nothing like reading at home, at school, on the train, on the ship, in the garden, on the beach, in short, in every part and every moment of life. We live a different life in every book, in every story. Learning from educational books is invaluable. Following the news is the center of life, rather than newspapers. As soon as we are born, we start reading to listen. We become a prince or princess in stories. Our books overflowing with the first cartoon characters fascinate us. Then the school adventure begins.

Our teachers make us love to read in every moment. Libraries used to be black boxes for us, but over time they become our home where we spend our hours. When someone speaks or makes a loud noise, everyone is on their toes to give that classic shhhhh response. Although it is not possible to say that it is possible in libraries to research and discover what we research, libraries are still the only address for reading for those who are not acquainted with technology or do not have technological opportunities.

A magnificent library was built in Yangon, Myanmar, which is one of the places where there is no opportunity and technology is not used much. This building is not spectacular because of its size or grandeur. It's amazing because it was created from recycled waste.

The project in Taikkyi, a neighborhood in the north of Myanmar's largest city, started in December 2020 as an initiative of the NGO Clean Yangon. The team made eco-bricks by filling plastic bottles with other plastic waste using waste donations from the local community. Volunteers hoped to welcome young readers in early 2021, but the opening was delayed indefinitely due to Myanmar's coup.

In Myanmar, discarded plastic bags and bottles are often dumped on roadsides and clog sewers. According to a study conducted by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and Thant Myanmar, it is estimated that 119 tons of plastic waste enter the country's Ayeyarwady River every day, making it one of the world's most polluted waterways.

The library isn't the only initiative in the country that aims to turn plastic waste into building materials. Myanmar's Whitewash Relief Foundation is building an eco-brick school in Hlaingthaya Township, Yangon. It is expected to be completed in July and will have three classrooms to serve 90 students.

Where there are impossibilities, there is always someone who finds a solution. Moreover, these solutions have been both a beautiful library and school, and also an entrance for the recycling of plastic waste. It is necessary to appreciate what we have, to talk more about equal opportunities, and to continue to work continuously for recycling. We think that the only way to instill these feelings is through reading.