Bangkok Prep’s Read-a-thon raises over Baht 400,000 for libraries Students more than double the funds raised last year
Students at Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School (Bangkok Prep) raised 432,000 Baht to support the The Always Reading Caravan (ARC) and the Neilson Hays Library during the school’s annual read-a-thon event.
ARC, a non-profit organization founded in 2010 by Yoshimi Horiuchi, a blind bookaholic from Japan, provides reading opportunities to Thai children both with and without disabilities in rural areas of the country through various activities including mobile library services. ARC conducts activities in two provinces: Oothong district in Suphanburi and Phrao district in Chiang Mai. The Neilson Hays Library is a private library in Bangkok offering a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books. The read-a-thon’s goal is to help students to read as much as possible and enjoy a variety of books. This activity not only promotes literacy among the students, but helps them to become community minded by actively supporting these two libraries. It is a fun way to encourage students to read and to introduce them to new genre of books and authors.
Last year the students raised Baht 170,000 and this year, they have raised more than double that amount.
In February this year, all primary and secondary students kicked off the read-a-thon by finding sponsors to pledge a certain amount of money per book they read. The next month was spent reading and documenting every book that was read and then collecting the money.
Other related activities held during that month included book character dress up day, book sales, visit by children’s author Alan Gibbons, writing workshop, a “bookworm” quiz, and a pajamas day to engage children in reading activities.
Students were awarded prizes in six different age categories for the "Most Amount of Books Read" and the "Most Amount of Money Raised".
A total of 5,600 books were read during this school wide reading marathon. Students read a total of 43,200 minutes which is equivalent to 720 hours during the 30 days!
All money raised will go directly to the two libraries.
Note: Please email kittima@brandnow.asia or supawajee@brandnow.asia for high resolution photographs.
About Bangkok Prep Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School (Bangkok Prep) is a private co-educational mid-size school located adjacent to the Thonglor BTS station, making it the most accessible and conveniently located international school in Bangkok.
The programme of study is based on the National Curriculum of England providing quality education to students from Nursery to Year 13. The school offers a rigorous ‘IGCSE’ programme to Year 10 and 11 students as a precursor to the Cambridge-approved ‘A’ Levels studied in Years 12 and 13, thereby PREParing students for acceptance to leading Universities throughout the world.
Bangkok Prep is proud of its holistic international approach to education and with more than 35 nationalities represented the school celebrates its cultural diversity. Students develop their own sense of identity whilst recognising and empathising with other cultures, traditions and beliefs.
A school-wide celebration is being held in 2013 to mark the school’s 10th anniversary.
