From Mini-Library to Community Learning Hub: Storytelling and Creative Flourish at Thuta Pinlel
At the heart of Gaw Yan Gyi Island, the Thuta Pinlel Library has grown into more than just a book-lending space, but it is now a lively gathering place where children come to explore, imagine, and learn side by side.
Launched by M&AOSB’s CSR Program in March 2024, the library now holds over 431 books, records 334 borrowings, serves 73 active members, and welcomes young readers every weekday. Through the Book Request Program, the shelves are constantly updated with titles chosen by the community.
The Heart of Learning
Since May 2025, the library has begun hosting monthly Storytelling and Creative Learning Sessions, an initiative designed to nurture reading habits, spark creativity, and foster a lifelong love of learning among local children. These sessions inspired young learners to think critically, care for their environment, and believe in their own creative voices.
Stories with a Moral – May 2025
The inaugural session in May brought familiar stories to life. In the story “The Fox and the Grapes”, children learned the value of perseverance and avoiding excuses. The story “Thirsty Crow” showed them how clever thinking can solve even the toughest problems. The format was simple: one person told a story, everyone listened, and then they discussed the lessons together. Characters became friends, and morals became promises the children could carry into their everyday lives.
Learning from the Ocean – June 2025
In June, the focus shifted from storybooks to the sea. The Coral Reef Conservation Knowledge Sharing Session transformed the library into an underwater classroom with coral samples, vivid visuals, and videos from the Coral Reef Conservation Pilot Project in Gaw Yan Gyi. Children discovered how coral reefs protect coastlines, support fish populations, and sustain livelihoods and why protecting them is vital for the community’s future.
Guardians of the Shore – July 2025
July’s Mangrove Conservation Knowledge Sharing Session took learning to the shoreline. Through interactive discussions, children discovered how mangrove forests protect against storms, provide safe havens for marine life, and store carbon to combat climate change. The session reinforced the idea that environmental stewardship begins with awareness and that even young voices can advocate for change.
Celebrating Creativity – August 2025
August’s session turned the spotlight on imagination. Children used paper, coloring pencils, flowers, petals, grass, and leaves to create artwork, then crafted stories to match their creations. The library became a gallery of vibrant illustrations and playful narratives, each one a demonstration to the power of creativity in shaping confident, original thinkers.
Beyond the Pages
What began as a small mini-library is now a dynamic hub where children in Gaw Yan Gyi not only learn to read, but also learn to dream, create, and care for the world around them. For M&AOSB, the Thuta Pinlel Library is more than a CSR initiative—it is a long-term investment in the community’s potential, fostering skills, knowledge, and values that will last a lifetime.