Reading Contest

The Reading Contest is one of OBOC’s flagship programs designed to enhance literacy skills and foster a deeper love for reading among youth in Cambodia. It focuses on improving students’ reading fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking, while also encouraging them to engage more meaningfully with the content of the books they read.

Through this program, we aim to create an exciting and supportive environment where young learners can challenge themselves, express their ideas, and grow as readers and thinkers. The contest is not just about winning—it’s about helping students gain confidence in their reading abilities and discover the joy of lifelong learning.

Whenever possible, the Reading Contest is included as part of our larger events and literacy campaigns, which may feature book fairs, reading corners, workshops, and other community-based activities.

The Reading Contest reflects OBOC’s broader mission: to make reading an active, accessible, and inspiring part of young people’s lives—wherever they are.

Library Development

At One Book One Community (OBOC), our Library Development Program is one of our most impactful and far-reaching initiatives. Over the years, we’ve consistently received requests from community leaders, teachers, and individuals asking for books to support small libraries—especially in rural areas of Cambodia where reading resources are scarce.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our dedicated volunteers and partners, we’ve been able to answer these calls and provide books to dozens of community-based libraries. This program continues to grow and evolve, becoming a vital bridge between underserved readers and the resources they need.

How it works:

The process begins when a school or local library contacts us requesting book donations. While our evaluation process is not overly strict, we do take time to confirm that each library is genuinely offering free, public access to books within their community.

Once confirmed, our team:

• Assesses the reading needs of that specific community
• Curates a list of suitable books based on age group, interest, and language
• Prepares the books for distribution with help from our amazing volunteers

In many cases, we also hand-deliver the books to these libraries. This gives us a chance to:

• Observe the library’s current setup
• Offer support or guidance on improving their space
• Help boost engagement by suggesting ways to attract more readers

After delivery, we maintain communication with the libraries by requesting follow-up updates. This helps us evaluate the effectiveness of our support, monitor usage, and continue building stronger, more sustainable reading spaces across Cambodia.

The Library Development Program reflects OBOC’s core belief: that everyone deserves access to books—no matter where they live. Through this program, we’re helping communities build stronger foundations for literacy, learning, and lifelong opportunity.

Book Giveaway

Often held alongside our book market events, our Book Giveaway program is a fun, welcoming way to put donated books directly into the hands of potential readers—at no cost.

The goal of the Book Giveaway is twofold:

• To encourage more people to read by removing the financial barrier often associated with buying books
• To help readers broaden their interests by introducing them to genres and authors they may never have explored before

Books are carefully selected from our donation inventory and shared with participants in a casual, community-centered environment. Many of these events take place in public areas, during literacy campaigns, or at special reading events—making books more visible, more accessible, and more exciting.

This program reflects our core mission: to ignite a love for reading and make books available to everyone, everywhere. One free book can be the beginning of a lifelong journey—and we’re here to help make that journey possible.

Mobile Library

The Mobile Library program is one of OBOC’s most creative and flexible ways to bring books directly into the community. Instead of asking people to come to the library, we bring the library to them.

Whether it’s a van filled with books rolling into a new neighborhood, or a pop-up reading corner in a café or restaurant, this program is designed to make reading visible, accessible, and fun—especially in places where books are rarely found.

Our Mobile Library activities are:

• Temporary but impactful
• Designed to spark curiosity and invite spontaneous reading
• Focused on reaching different areas—from parks and schools to rural villages and urban hangouts

In some cases, we collaborate with local businesses by offering a mini book collection to set up in their space for a period of time. This allows customers to pick up a book while enjoying their coffee or meal, creating a more relaxed and informal reading culture.

The Mobile Library program is a perfect example of OBOC’s belief that reading doesn’t have to stay in one place—it should go where the people are.