Dhumbarahi’s Baal Pustakalaya is a community children’s library initiated by student Skanda Swar and her brother Saharsh Swar in June.

Every Saturday, from 9:00 to 11:00 am, children gather at the Dhumbarahi temple to read Nepali and English novels, comics, and stories. The Swar family initiation seeks to foster a love for reading and bridge the gap between private and government schools.

Skanda, a class ten student behind the initiative, plays a crucial role in helping students learn new words through listening. “I read aloud so that the kids can learn a word they are unfamiliar with,” she says.

Her brother, Saharsh, engages the kids in games like chess and cricket, making the environment fun and interactive. The library, now in its 10th week, also encourages parent-child activities, with children arriving with their parents each week to explore books.

According to one of the parents, they are excited to see their children choosing books over electronics and spending quality time reading and learning.

The library thrives, with an average of 30 visitors attending within two hours. The community supports the initiative by donating children's storybooks.