Every weekend, two siblings engage in the Dhumbarahi Children’s Library as part of a local community initiative to nurture a love for reading and learning among the neighbourhood’s youth.

Skanda Swar, 15, and Saharsh Swar, 10, students at Ullens School, initiated the library. Every Saturday, the siblings, with cartons filled with books, set up a temporary library at Dhumbarahi Temple, filling the space with various children's books available to anyone who stops by.

The siblings’ idea for the community library stemmed from their love of reading. While conversing with the neighbourhood’s kids, they were surprised that most did not share a passion for books. It was even more disconcerting when they realised that this was mainly due to the lack of a public library nearby and the inaccessibility of books.

Saharsh explains, “I wanted my friends (from the neighbourhood) also to read the books I was reading so we could talk about them,”

“We are very privileged to read good books from our school and also from personal archives, but it is a sad truth that many kids out there don’t have access to any, and we wanted to change that, at least in our community,” Skanda adds.

The siblings arrange everything on the tablecloth, organised by genre and age group, creating a warm and inviting space under the shade of the pipal tree.

After just fifteen weeks, the initiative has attracted about 50 young readers, increasing weekly attendance. The library now boasts 105 books available for borrowing, which has expanded through generous donations from community members to family and friends. These titles include Nepali and English picture books for younger children aged 5 to chapter books and engaging series for older preteens.

Children who attend the library are thrilled with the experience. "I love this initiative because those who don’t have books can read now,” says Aayush Achami, 11, from Bagmati Boarding Secondary School.

Radhya Khatun, a third grader from Shree Dhumbaraha Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, says, “I have taken 12 books from the library and made new friends here too.”

Saharsh and Skanda are focused on making their Saturday library as welcoming and inclusive as possible. Their dedication is a small but impactful step toward unity, and it should inspire kids from other communities to bridge divides and unite people.

The Dhumbarahi Library is open to all children every week from 8 to 10 am in front of the Dhumbarahi Temple.