FUFASA and VSCLA unrolls the Books On Wheels Mobile Library Project

Valencia City recently unveiled the Books On Wheels mobile library project, a literacy initiative that was brought to life through the creative collaboration of the FU Fine Arts Students Association (FUFASA) and the Valencia Senior Citizen Literacy Advocates (VSCLA).

The Books On Wheels project is a community‑led initiative that pairs retired educators with young learners to deliver literacy support in underserved barangays. The mobile library will travel across remote villages, offering books in different genres, and stories across diverse cultural themes. They are carefully picked by the volunteers, and will be delivered in both Visayan and English languages.

The initiative will focus on early-grade children from kindergarten through to Grade 3. In a report from Metropost Online, VSCLA President Virginia Stack says that “The initiative has clear objectives [to] build reading habits, boost literacy skills and—most importantly—kindle a love for books.”

Story‑telling sessions will be facilitated by seasoned senior citizens who will share stories aloud and draw on their experience as former teachers to effectively engage the young audiences. One of the group’s missions is to use literature as a bridge for shared understanding, nurturing intergenerational bonds that bring the gap between the new and the older generations together.

The mobile library is a refitted Chariot that has the appearance of a brightly-painted book cart. The three-wheeled utility design makes it easier to navigate tight roads and reach remote areas in the region. In providing access to educational materials which are hard to come by in far-flung communities, the organizers hope that the interactive learning experience will develop foundational skills in reading and comprehension, and motivate young readers to pursue learning with more enthusiasm.

It was brought to life through Printmaking I students under the guidance of instructor Sharon Dadang‑Rafols. She helped coordinate the design and painting of the vehicle, holding the project together in its early planning stages. FUFASA students were actively involved from conceptualization to the execution of the project, eventually culminating in the launch of the mobile library.

In speaking about the project, Christine says “It was initially supposed to be an activity under her [Ma’am Rafols’] class; however, she extended this initiative to us, asking if FUFASA could take part in it.”

FUFASA members took on the challenge of designing and painting the mobile library and worked consistently through the summer to complete it on time. With support from VSCLA President Virginia Stack and Mayor Edgar Teves Jr., FUFASA representatives received the official certificates in recognition of their efforts last Wednesday, July 23.

Christine explains their initial reluctance: “At first, my colleagues and I were quite hesitant to take on the project because of our hectic timetable during the summer.” But encouraged by Ma’am Sharon and the departmental support rallying behind them, the team pursued the initiative formally by drafting a letter to the Fine Arts secretary, and securing permission to use the campus grounds as their workspace.

Rain or shine, the FUFASA students painted nonstop to meet their deadline. “With the help and guidance of Ma’am Sharon and our department, we were able to make it happen. It was a fulfilling process…”

Christine emphasizes the team’s unity in making the project possible, “This was a collective effort and everyone participated actively… I believe everything went smoothly because everyone had the initiative and a shared vision.” The strong interpersonal bonds within the FUFASA group enabled a smooth creative journey that carried the project from planning to execution without friction.

When asked about the message that the mobile library cart communicates, Christine offers a vibrant response to the beneficiaries, hoping “...they will recognize the importance of promoting and developing literacy across all age groups. I believe that learning is a lifelong process... I hope that the artistry FUFASA rendered on the mobile library will inspire them to think creatively and transform their knowledge and ideas into expressive forms.”

Their outreach supports the Fine Arts department’s extension program–Project Dos–by broadening the idea of art exhibitions through student‑led public art collaborations in local communities. Christine views FUFASA’s involvement as a natural alignment of the department’s mission to be a catalyst of change in public spaces where the community and art thrives. The group has been actively involved in artistic outreach meaningfully contributing to civic initiatives since 2023.

Christine and the FUFASA group are optimistic about the future. The Fine Arts department is set to join the CWTS program in the coming school year so they anticipate a deeper collaboration with welfare-oriented departments, and the possibility of expanding their civic art initiatives further.

The Books on Wheels program joins other mobile literacy efforts across the Philippines. As traditional libraries are fixed and often difficult to reach in the rural interior, this will bridge the access gap faced by many children. In bringing books directly to their communities, projects of this kind support reading development and sustain the cultural ties by which communities pass on imagination and knowledge.

FUFASA and VSCLA have opened the door to learning in motion. The vibrant mobile library will celebrate literacy and artistic expression, serving as a lively and thoughtful space for community connection and learning at the same time. As the Chariot rolls into Valencia’s barangays, the organizers hope to bring stories and smiles together, and to leave a powerful reminder that communities flourish when art and learning accompany each other.