WeeklyAll ages
Reading spaces
Reading points opened together with residents — where books change hands and stories change minds. Come to read, or just sit and listen.
A literacy movement from Labuan Bajo
Read the words, then read the world.
We open reading spaces with residents, run storytelling classes for children and teens, and reach villages that don't yet have access to books.
- Where we work
- Labuan BajoWhere we work
- Run together with residents
- Three programsRun together with residents
- Open, no requirements
- All agesOpen, no requirements
Where we start from
A reading culture grows where people, books, and stories meet
Three things that explain why this movement exists, and where it's headed.
Why we exist
Books that only sit on a shelf don't make people read. What makes people read is usually another person inviting them to.
Where the name comes from
“Waca” means “to read.” The name was born from the language and the land where this movement grew — Labuan Bajo.
How we make sense of it
Reading is a way to know, understand, listen, and share stories. That's where people grow together.
Programs
Three paths, one shared goal
Every program runs together with local residents. All of them are open to new volunteers.
Kids & teensVolunteer-led
Storytelling classes
Writing and storytelling sessions for children and teens, guided by volunteers from the local community. Nothing is graded, and no story is considered wrong.
Village roundsWith schools
Literacy on the road
Rounds of visits to villages and schools that don't yet have access to books. We go to them, instead of waiting to be visited.
What we believe
GrowingThroughStories
Through books, stories, and togetherness, we build spaces where people learn, understand each other, and grow together.
Values
Four values that guide how we work
Not a slogan — this is what we use to decide the small things, every day.
Together
Everyone has an equal place.
Programs are shaped together with residents, not brought in ready-made from outside.
Open
Everyone has an equal chance.
No requirements on age, background, or reading ability.
Willing to try
We test new ways of doing things instead of arguing about them.
When a format doesn't work, we say so and change it.
Willing to understand
Listen first, then move forward.
Every activity ends by asking what changed.
How to join
Start with one small step
No teaching experience needed. All it takes is time and a willingness to listen.
Send us a message
Tell us who you are and when you're free, by email or an Instagram message. One paragraph is enough.
Join one session
Come to one activity as an observer first. No commitment required afterward.
Pick your role
Leading a class, organizing the collection, delivering books, or documenting — all of it is needed.
The next story needs one more person
Open to volunteers, writers, teachers, and anyone who wants to grow a reading culture in Labuan Bajo.