AIT Presents Books to Commonwealth Magazine's "Read for the Future" Program

PR0866E | Date: 2008-10-21

Taipei County Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei, CommonWealth Magazine Education Foundation Chairman Diane Ying, and AIT Public Affairs Section Chief Thomas Hodges with Youmu Primary School students. (Photo: Taipei County Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei, CommonWealth Magazine Education Foundation Chairman Diane Ying, and AIT Public Affairs Section Chief Thomas Hodges with Youmu Primary School students.)

Taipei County Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei, CommonWealth Magazine Education Foundation Chairman Diane Ying, and AIT Public Affairs Section Chief Thomas Hodges took part in the book presentation at Youmu Primary School in Taipei County.  The presentation was followed by story-telling by representatives of AIT. 

"We are impressed by the efforts the CommonWealth Magazine Education Foundation has made to bring books to remote elementary schools in Taiwan," said Thomas Hodges, Chief of AIT's Public Affairs Section." AIT is honored to be able to contribute to the project," he said. AIT hopes to provide students in remote areas with more extensive resources through this cooperation, he added.

At the event, AIT presented about 300 easy-to-read English books to students and teachers for the American Shelf of the "Read for the Future" bookmobiles, as part of the cooperation program between AIT and CommonWealth.

An American Shelf serves as a platform for "telling America's story" through a variety of events and specialized print and non-print media on various aspects of American society and culture.  Since 2000, over 400 cities around the world have become part of the growing network of American Shelves and American Corners.   The American Shelf in the "Read for the Future" bookmobiles is the second American Shelf established in Taiwan; AIT's first American Shelf was established at the Kaohsiung City Public Library.  In addition, there is an American Corner in Taichung.

"Read for the Future," a project launched in 2004 by the CommonWealth Magazine Education Foundation, includes three bookmobiles that circulate among 200 remote elementary schools in Taiwan and reach over 25,000 students.