Reading in hospital to prevent school dropout and soothe boredom
Designed in partnership with Magic Libraries Foundation*, Sipar launched a new reading project in 2025 in the pediatric oncology department of Jayavarman VII Hospital in Siem Reap. This project helps children who are hospitalized for long periods of time avoid dropping out of school by offering a variety of activities each week.
Get well in the hospital and don't fall behind in school
Opened in early 2025, the oncology department treats up to 80 children aged 6 to 12 with cancer. Hospitalized for at least three months, their biggest challenge is to avoid falling too far behind in school once their treatment is complete.
Cambodia has a structural shortage of human resources and infrastructure in the education sector, so staying in school is already a challenge for every child. After a long hospital stay, sick children may experience difficulties when they return to school. Offering a variety of reading, educational, and/or creative activities helps to continue to stimulate children's curiosity and learning and fill the long waiting times.
A project already embraced by children
Under the coordination of Sipar librarian-educators in Siem Reap, a volunteer facilitator visits hospitalized children twice a week. She offers them moments of reading aloud, free reading, and writing, combined with creative activities and academic support. All sessions are conducted in accordance with hospital hygiene rules.
Launched in July, the initiative has already been well received: children are rediscovering the joy of stories and the magic of books. Regular discussions with the medical team allow activities to be adjusted as needed.
In agreement with the hospital, the project plans to set up a reading corner to give all children hospitalized for short or long stays permanent access to books. It will be a space of comfort and escape that will stay with them long after their stay.
Mani, volunteer librarian and educational assistant at the hospital
Mani, 20, is from Siem Reap province. An English literature student, she became involved in community and environmental activities at a young age before joining Sipar as a volunteer.
Volunteering with Sipar at the Jayavarman VII Hospital library is an experience that fills me with joy and meaning. Reading stories to sick children, offering them educational games, or simply sharing a moment of attention reminds me every day that even small gestures can bring comfort and hope.
I have always dreamed of helping children, and here I can offer them not only books, but also a listening ear, affection, and confidence in the future. These moments spent with them give me the motivation to pursue my dream: to become a teacher and continue to support younger generations.
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A big thank you to the Magic Libraries Foundation for its commitment to educating the most vulnerable. Discover the other aspect of this partnership: a project to provide access to reading for 500 children in the slums of Phnom Penh, again in collaboration with Magic Libraries, by clicking here.
*Magic Libraries Foundation is a Swiss foundation whose objectives include promoting the enjoyment of reading and literacy through reading.