BACA Brings Reading, Creativity and Community Spirit to Bandar Sunway
Updated: 8 hours ago
13 September 2026 | Bandar Sunway, Selangor
Book Aid Asia brought its Book Advocacy for Children Achievement (BACA) programme to Bandar Sunway, creating a meaningful reading and learning experience for children from the underserved community.
The BACA programme was integrated into a vibrant Lantern Festival organised by the local community, bringing together children and families in an atmosphere of celebration, creativity and cultural appreciation.
What made the programme particularly meaningful was the participation of children across a wide age range — from 5 to 17 years old. Despite their different ages and backgrounds, the children came together to learn, express their creativity and discover the joy of reading.
Learning Through Creativity
As part of the BACA activities, the children were invited to complete creative assignments inspired by the theme of the Lantern Festival.
The younger children expressed their ideas through drawings, while the older participants were encouraged to write short stories based on the festival and what it meant to them.
Through these activities, the children were encouraged not only to read, but also to think, imagine and express themselves. For Book Aid Asia, this is an important part of the BACA philosophy. A book is more than a gift. It can be an opportunity to learn, imagine and build a better future.
Rather than simply distributing books, BACA encourages children to participate in an activity before receiving a story book. This approach is intended to create a stronger connection between the child and the book — making reading an experience rather than simply receiving a donated item.
Sunway College Students: Young Volunteers Making a Difference
An important part of the Bandar Sunway BACA programme was the collaboration between Book Aid Asia and student volunteers from Sunway College.
The students volunteered their time to support the BACA activities and worked alongside the children throughout the programme. Their involvement helped create a friendly and encouraging environment where the children could participate comfortably in the drawing and writing activities.
For the young volunteers, the programme also provided an opportunity to experience community service first-hand — engaging directly with children and contributing their time and energy to a meaningful social cause.
Book Aid Asia believes that young people themselves can become powerful agents of positive change. By involving students in BACA activities, the programme creates a connection between education, volunteering and community development.
The collaboration with Sunway College demonstrates how educational institutions and community organisations can work together to create meaningful opportunities for both volunteers and the children they serve.
Books as a Reward for Participation
The highlight of the programme was the presentation of story books to the participating children. The books were presented by YB Michelle Ng, Assemblywoman for Subang Jaya, who took the opportunity to encourage the children to develop a love for reading and learning. For many children, receiving a story book can be a small moment. But for a child who may have limited access to books at home, it can represent something much more significant — a new story to discover, a new idea to explore and perhaps the beginning of a lifelong reading habit.
The involvement of YB Michelle Ng also demonstrated the importance of collaboration between community organisations, elected representatives and social initiatives in creating opportunities for children.
Celebrating Culture While Encouraging Reading
Integrating BACA into the Lantern Festival provided a unique opportunity to combine culture, creativity and reading. The children were able to experience the festive atmosphere while learning about the meaning and traditions associated with the Lantern Festival. At the same time, the drawing and storytelling activities gave them a platform to interpret the festival in their own way. This combination reflects the spirit of community-based BACA programmes — bringing reading beyond the classroom and into places where children naturally gather.
Building a Community That Reads
Book Aid Asia believes that developing a reading culture requires more than providing books. It requires access, encouragement, participation and a supportive community.
The Bandar Sunway BACA programme demonstrated how a community event can become an opportunity to introduce children to reading and creative learning. It also showed that children of different ages can participate meaningfully when activities are designed to suit their abilities.
The participation of Sunway College student volunteers added another important dimension to the programme by connecting young volunteers with children from the community and demonstrating the value of giving time, knowledge and encouragement to others.
For Book Aid Asia, every child who discovers a new story is a step towards building a stronger reading culture. We hope that the books received during the programme will not remain on a shelf. We hope they will be opened, read, shared with siblings and friends, and inspire many more stories and dreams.
Every Child Deserves a Book.
Every Child Deserves a Chance to Dream.
Book Aid Asia remains committed to bringing books and reading opportunities to underserved children through BACA — Book Advocacy for Children Achievement.
Together with communities, student volunteers, schools, organisations, elected representatives and caring individuals, we can help put more books into the hands of children who need them most.
Read. Imagine. Learn. Achieve.
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