In Myanmar, it is estimated that 4% of the country’s 53 million children have access to books at home. In addition, books that match a reader’s level, especially in those in Burmese and that of country’s ethnic groups, are scarce and continue to be a significant need. There have been many efforts to promote children’s literature in Myanmar, but the number of new, original works on the market remains very limited. One of the reasons for this has to do with the lack of emerging authors of children’s literature.
In 2019, the Myanmar Library Association (MLA) joined the Asia Foundation’s Let’s Read project to fill this gap in authors and to overcome the shortage of children’s books.
Let’s Read is Asia’s free digital library of relatable, local-language books accessible to all children. The programme aims to nurture reading habits and enable children to reach important developmental milestones, encourage families to share stories that affirm their culture, and support communities to flourish and grow inclusively.
Kyle Barker, Director of the Books for Asia at the Asia Foundation, pointed out the desired outcomes of the programme: “In many underserved countries there is a lack of a reading culture. We know that when children are part of a reading culture, they are able to critically think, and they are able to develop their imagination. Children end up staying in school longer and becoming a part of a thriving society. Children learn best when they are able to make connections and they make connections by reading books that are in their local language, the language that they hear at home and in their communities.”
The Let’s Read library, among others, offer a variety of books that allow children to acquire knowledge on topics such as gender equality, sustainability, environment and climate action, diversity, empathy and STEAM. Books in the Let’s Read Digital Library come from BookLabs, and through translations and partnerships with local organisations and universities. During a two-day translation event in August 2019, 50 translators and 10 editors gathered together for a translation event; 113 children’s books were translated, followed by translations of 93 books in November.
With support from the MLA and their volunteer network, more than 200 children’s books were translated into Burmese and are now available in the Let’s Read library. Thanks to the engagement of local ethnic groups, translations are available in languages spoken throughout Myanmar such as Chin, Kachin, and Rakhine. The Let’s Read Myanmar collection includes brand new stories written and illustrated by authors in Myanmar that celebrate diversity and inclusion.
All translated books are available for non-commercial use in the Let’s Read library for both online and offline reading, downloading, printing, and sharing. Let’s Read Myanmar collection is used by 50,000 readers annually.
A librarian from the Mettananda Community Library, Thingankyun Township in Yangon shared how the programme fosters a child’s connection with a variety of cultures: “I introduced the Let’s Read app at the library using tablets. By reading the translated storybooks from other countries, young people develop a curiosity to know more about other countries, cultures, and customs.”
By bringing together the talent of local partners and the power of technology to create and translate relatable children’s books, Let’s Read builds a world where curious and educated readers create thriving societies.