CANVAS-DepEd partnership donates 1.7M books nationwide
CANVAS Executive Director Gigo Alampay takes a photo with the learners of Taytay Elementary School
Taytay, Rizal—CANVAS granted the Department of Education (DepEd) a royalty-free license to print and distribute more than 1.7 million copies of Message in the Sand for K–3 learners nationwide last May.
CANVAS and fellow donors and partners, including Adarna House, Rex Education, Lampara Books, and The Asia Foundation, were invited to Taytay Elementary School for a ceremonial distribution of school bags and books. It was also confirmed that the printing of the 1.7 million copies of Message in the Sand is already underway. First published in 2008, the book features a story by Charmaine Aserappa and paintings by Roel Obemio.
Together with donors and partners
For CANVAS, this is a significant milestone. Since 2005, we have donated a little over 515,000 books. With this single project, the reach of our books will grow to more than 2.2 million copies. And this is only the beginning.
Learners with their own copies of Message in the Sand
The organization is currently working with DepEd on other book projects, including two books for young parents to help prepare their children for lifelong literacy and learning. Once completed, these books will also be printed and distributed in the millions.
Working on books that directly engage the public school system brings CANVAS closer to our vision for national development and cultural promotion, helping ensure that the stories we create continue to find their way into the hands of the children who need them most.
CANVAS and the rest of the partners were awarded with Partner-Hero plaques
A non-profit that works with the creative community to promote literacy and explore national identity, CANVAS publishes award-winning children's stories and donates the books to benefit children in public schools and poor communities throughout the Philippines. Its One Million Books Campaign promotes independent reading and creative thinking in Filipino children, while also exposing them to the best of contemporary Filipino art and literature. Twenty Years of Art and Stories details the organization’s work, from art exhibitions, book publishing and distribution, to partnerships CANVAS has had in the past two decades.
