"The more you read, the more you know.
The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." - Dr. Seuss
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
2018-16
In September 2018, training was held in September for 6 Valenzuela daycare centers who will pilot our First Steps to Engaged Reading Program. Fifteen teachers and 10 supervisors attended.
In 2017 the following workshops were held in the Philippines, by our dedicated volunteers: Peace Corps volunteers in Silang, Cavite. (Feb.), Balbalasang, Kalinga Apayao,(June),Bulacan (Sept.), Manila (October)and Quezon City in partnership with the Rotary (November).
Workshops were held in Bataan in April 2016 and Nueva Ecija in July to teach First Steps to Engaged Reading to teachers and education majors. New libraries were established in four new schools in Pangasinan and eleven in Northern Samar.
2015
BKP conducted a large workshop with 80 teachers in Northern Samar. A partnership was established with Central Luzon University college of education. BKP began to support new schools in Nueva Ecija and Samar.
2014
The Peace Corps grant was extended. BKP recommended that the Reading Buddies program be implemented in all the schools that it was supporting. To facilitate the program, it was recommended that at least 30 books be kept in each classroom to be used during the Reading Buddies sessions.
2013
BKP received a $50,000 grant from the Peace Corps. As part of the agreement, BKP Philippines was responsible for conducting teacher workshops in 8 geographical areas, while our U.S. volunteers packed and shipped approximately 10,000 books to Peace Corps-initiated libraries.
2012
BKP’s Thinking While Reading Program is piloted, led by BKP’s founder, Rowena Jimenez.
2011
The Board of Directors instituted new rules and regulations on the process of opening BKP chapters.
2010
BKP California was established by Carolina Leap in the San Diego area.
In July, BKP Philippines signed a Memorandum of Agreement to collaborate with NGOs Bato Balani, Synergeia, 7 Degrees of Change, and children's book publisher Adarna House with the goal of establishing 100 more libraries -- at least one in each province -- together in the next 10 years.
2009
BKP sent aid to victims of the catastrophic flooding in the Philippines, shipping 6 boxes of goods and wiring $2,000 to BKP Philippines. With the help of BKP Philippines, Open Heart Foundation, and Adamson University, 500 families were given a family pack.
BKP NY was established by Lorna Mesina-Husain.
2008
BKP marks its 10th anniversary with a cultural presentation staged by various Filipino-American organizations based in Massachusetts.
2007
BKP establishes its 100th library.
BKP initiates formal links with the Peace Corps and Gawad-Kalinga.
2006
BKP receives the Banaag Award from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in a ceremony held at Malacanang Palace in the Philippines.
BKP Canada and BKP UK are created.
2005
Regional workshops training hundreds of teachers and volunteers are held in Tuguegarao Cagayan, Pangasinan, Zambales, Odiongan Romblon, and Quezon City in the Greater Manila area.
2004
Rotary International funds the first major, regional BKP read aloud workshop using the Rotary literacy method called Concentrated Language Encounter (CLE).
2003
BKP marks its 5th anniversary as a nonprofit institution by acknowledging several hundred supporters, partner-organizations, book donors, and volunteers in the Philippines and in the United States.
2002
BKP opens its 40th mini-library, enabling it to expose about 100,000 Filipino children to the joy of reading each day.
2001
BKP-sponsored reading centers sprout in Romblon with the help of a local mayor, Alice Fetalvero, who belongs to TEACH (a group of professionals who hail from the Romblon region).
2000
BKP Philippines is established with Alice Quilicot as Director.
BKP collaborates with an umbrella NGO (non-government organization) to simultaneously set up three mini-libraries in Irosin, Sorsogon.
1999
BKP's first modest community library opens in Daraga, Albay.
1998
BKP incorporates in Massachusetts as a 501(c)3 organization.
1997
The BKP seed is planted when Rowena Jimenez begins reading aloud to a group of eight underprivileged children in her living room in Barangka, Marikina.