Sipar

BACKGROUND 

Sipar mission is to initiate children, youth and adults into reading and to open the access to knowledge and to education, the first step on the fight against illiteracy and poverty.

Over 25 years, Sipar has developed a network of reading places, fixed and mobile, school reading or public reading in order to support the development of a reading culture in Cambodia.

Furthermore, Sipar, aware of the situation of the Publishing Sector and of the lack of books in Khmer language for young people, implemented a publishing program in 2000 in order to provide books in Khmer.

These activities are supported by foundations, private and institutional donors, companies. To develop its activities, Sipar wishes to enhance its relationships with the private sector.

Sipar achievements include: 300 libraries implemented in primary schools and located in all the provinces of Cambodia, 2 500 librarians and more than 12 000 teachers trained in reading activities, 26 Reading Centers situated in rural areas, 26 prisons of Cambodia being equipped with a library for all prisoners, 19 hospitals equipped with a reading corner, 21 Youth Clubs are established in rural areas, 13 Library Resources Centers in garment factories are in services and 5 are under preparation, 9 mobile libraries running every day in the disadvantaged areas in the suburbs of Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kampong Speu, Siem Reap and Rattanakiri provinces (72 sites) and more than 146 books published in more than 1 800 000 copies."