In a quiet but powerful act of generosity, a children’s book donation drive is planting seeds of hope at Liberty International Christian School (LICS), as it prepares to open its library this year with the aim of building early childhood foundations in literacy, language, and cognitive skills.

The Book Donation Drive is an initiative by Lelani Gidisa, 22, who is currently studying Business in the United States. During her school break, she shared a 30-second video on Facebook seeking book donations for the school’s library.

While studying in the United States, she observed how libraries were woven into everyday life, not only in cities but in small towns as well, serving as safe spaces for learning, imagination, and growth. Bringing those thoughts home, she realized that many children in Papua New Guinea grow up without ever stepping inside a library.

“For many children, access to books is not guaranteed,” Lelani reflected. “If we can’t reach every child, we can start with one; one book, one school. That alone can change a life.”

With the school’s library set to open soon, the idea took shape. Lelani explained that the initiative focuses on early childhood, aligning with the school’s curriculum for children aged three to seven.

“Focusing on children’s books is incredibly important because early childhood is the most critical phase of brain development. Research shows that the first few years of a child’s life are vital for building a foundation in literacy, language, and cognitive skills. Books are essential tools in this process and yet access to them is a major gap in Port Moresby and many parts of Papua New Guinea.”

Without books, children miss more than stories. They miss the chance to develop imagination, confidence, and a lifelong love for learning. The donation drive aims to bridge that gap, one page at a time.

For students at Liberty International Christian School, the impact of a library goes far beyond shelves and textbooks.

In an age dominated by screens, a library offers something increasingly rare, quiet focus, deep thinking, and the freedom to explore ideas independently.

It creates a space where curiosity is encouraged, and learning becomes self-driven rather than forced.

“A library builds more than academic skills,” Lelani shared. “It shapes emotional growth, creativity, and character.”

She describes the initiative as small but powerful, drawing from both lived experience and faith

“One donated book can open an entire world for a child. That one act of kindness can change the direction of their education, their confidence, even their future.”

As a child her first reading book was a donated Dr. Seuss title, it was worn and imperfect, yet it sparked a lifelong relationship with reading. That single book, she says, became a turning point.

"I was just four years old, but that book sparked a lifelong love of reading. It was a small, simple thing that made a world of difference in my life," Lelani shared.

With the LICS library scheduled to open as the 2026 back-to school fever sets in, the donation drive is laying the foundation now.

The books collected today will form the backbone of a library designed to serve not just current students, but generations to come. The vision extends beyond literacy, aiming to nurture students spiritually, socially, and intellectually.

Lelani hopes the message reaches families, educators, and the wider community, especially those who may take access to books for granted.

She emphasizes that building a reading culture does not start in institutions alone, but at home, through shared stories and simple encouragement.

At LICS, she has already witnessed the ripple effect of education, where children carry lessons, values, and faith back into their homes, sometimes influencing entire families.

Donations are currently being accepted every Friday from 8am to 12pm at Liberty International Christian School on Budoa Avenue, East Boroko, with options for both in-person drop-offs and mailed contributions. Whether new or gently used, every child’s book is welcomed.

“This is more than a book drive,” Lelani said. “It’s the beginning of a broader conversation about literacy, access, and responsibility.”

In a country where resources are often stretched thin, this initiative stands as a reminder that hope does not always arrive in grand gestures. Sometimes it comes quietly, wrapped in pages, passed from hand to hand, carrying the promise that education, faith, and opportunity can grow from even the smallest seeds.