Dictionary Project Grows in the Philippines

Bringing Words to Life: Dictionary Project Grows in the Philippines

On the small island of Camiguin, Philippines, a literacy movement is making a lasting impact—one dictionary at a time. The Friends of the Binunsaran Library, a nonprofit organization registered in Massachusetts, has expanded its involvement with The Dictionary Project by delivering personal dictionaries to children in remote elementary schools across the island.

In 2023, the group distributed 528 dictionaries to students in ten elementary schools, ensuring that every child from 3rd through 6th grade received a copy—an important step to support distance learning and vocabulary development during the pandemic.

This year, three new schools have been added, bringing the total to 13. Currently, 480 new dictionaries are en route via freighter, taking 3–4 months to reach Camiguin. Once the shipment arrives, Friends of the Binunsaran Library will again collaborate with the Philippines Department of Education to ensure smooth delivery and joyful distribution.

But the literacy efforts go beyond dictionaries. Nearly 600 additional books were also shipped to help restock the Binunsaran Little Free Library, a cozy children’s library established in 2018 in the village of Binunsaran. Equipped with a laptop and Starlink Wi-Fi, this library serves as a bridge to knowledge for children who rarely own books of their own.

To date, the library holds 8,000 books, while the organization has shipped a total of 16,000—creating moments of joy when children get to take books home permanently.

The Friends of the Binunsaran Library continue to show how community-driven efforts and educational resources like dictionaries can open new doors for children, fostering a lifelong love of learning.