Advocacy groups, locals unite to bring library to Siargao’s remote community

ANAJAWAN ISLAND, Surigao del Norte – In an effort to champion accessible education, different advocacy-driven organizations, along with local volunteers, came together to build and design the first creative library space in Isla Anajawan, one of Siargao’s last mile communities.

Dubbed Anajawan Creative Library Space, the interactive hub is a collaborative project led by Calls Over Ridges Philippines and Taiwan-based Sports City International (SCI), aimed at empowering local island communities through education.

The project is also made possible through the united efforts of different local and international non-profit organizations. This includes youth-led group Kids for Kids who provides the space’s design; Project Juan, an Australian faith-based organization, who supports its construction and expansion; and One Million Lights PH who is currently holding a fundraising campaign to install a solar power system to the entire library.

According to Kevin Ortillo, Calls Over Ridges Philippines communications manager, the community library is a response to the urgent need of bringing quality education to the youth of Isla Anajawan, especially following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in 2021, which destroyed 145 schools in the island.

“Alam naman natin kung ano ‘yung naging effect and impact ng natural calamity na ‘to dito sa Isla, especially for our last mile island communities like Anajawan. So what we really want right now as a child-centric organization dito sa Pilipinas is to provide access to quality education, especially for this marginalized sector ng kabataan,” Ortillo told ABS-CBN News.

Through this project, the organization also aims to not just to elevate the youth’s literacy skills and the island's quality of education, but also address the systemic challenges long-endured by remote communities in the country.

Stalled since 2021, the reconstruction efforts for the Anajawan Creative Library Space resumed in December 2024, and is targeted for completion and turnover this month. It will also become the first fully operational library in the island, which is poised to benefit more than 100 youth and students.

The space will serve as a hub for learning and empowerment, featuring workshops, storytelling activities, reading corners, cultural works, and digital learning opportunities both for the young and adult learners of Isla Anajawan.

Addressing systemic challenges

Calls Over Ridges Philippines program manager Ram Jaylo also acknowledged the challenges plaguing the country’s education system, such as literacy gaps, scarce resources, and inadequate spaces, especially in far-flung communities like Isla Anajawan where access to education is limited. 

“Makikita natin na itong mga last mile communities na ito, they don't have the proper infrastructures, they don't have the proper equipments to really experience the same quality of education that they deserve as well,” Ortillo emphasized.

Jaylo also added that some locals in Anajawan are dependent on a few educated people in their island when it comes to basic literacy and other learning support due to the lack of educational spaces.

“It's a systemic problem, and it's not just really an isolated case for Isla Anajawan. This is the case hindi lang [sa] mga remote island communities but also sa mga mountain provinces, sa mga geographically isolated and depressed areas talaga,” Jaylo stressed.

These “systemic problems” ignited their determination to revitalize the Anajawan community library, promising holistic, strategic, and context-based solutions to end literacy gaps and educational challenges.

Ortillo further noted that they are steering clear of an experimental approach for the programs they intend to introduce to the community library.

“So we're not trying to introduce a new model. What we're trying to do or what we've done is really to learn from what works within this community kasi delikado magpasok ng mag-experiment sa kung anong dapat matutunan ng mga kabataan,” he stated.

The creative library hub also promises to be more than just a place to borrow books — it is a space designed to empower learning, spark dreams, and celebrate the community’s arts and culture.

“In this creative library space that we're introducing, we allow creativeness, critical thinking sa mga bata and at the same time, the supplementary learning materials that we're providing them are localized and contextualized,” Ortillo said.

Aiming to strengthen literacy efforts, the organization also partnered with the Department of Education in curating books and educational materials anchored on the needs of the youth and the local community. This includes books appropriate to the learners’ age and their reading competency, which will be turned over by the end of June.

“We're very intentional about this. So we're not just really giving a one-shoes-fits-all na program. But really this is something na could cater to the needs of the entirety of the kids,” Jaylo expressed.

Apart from the library, Calls Over Ridges Philippines also offers three other core programs to the community of Anajawan, namely the literacy program, nutrition program, and school boat bus program — all aimed at elevating the island’s learning opportunities.

Helping hand-in-hand

With the upcoming launch of Anajawan Creative Library Space, Ortillo and Jaylo underscored the significance of collaboration among organizations in bringing their advocacies to light.

They stated that they made it as a purpose “to act as a glue” to unite advocacy-driven groups in order to strengthen and enhance the service and programs they bring to the people.

“it is very clear to us na we can't provide everything. But there is one thing that we can do, and that is really to gather all of these organizations, ‘yung network na ito, para matulungan ang community, para mas maging mabuti talaga ‘yung kalagayan ng education sa isla,” Jaylo said.

Meanwhile, the islands’ locals — such as teachers, families, students — also contributed to co-creating and bringing to life their first creative library space.

With  this joint effort, Calls Over Ridges Philippines hopes one thing for Anajawan Creative Library Space — for it to be a “safe space” where youth can grow, learn, and dream, allowing them to realize that they are also capable of bringing change in  their community.

“Ayaw natin maging palamuti siya ng isla. ...Nais naming magamit ito. Nais naming punitin ng mga bata ‘yung libro, kulayan, [at] i-enjoy, dahil ginagamit nila ito at nae-enjoy nila yung pag-stay doon sa space na inilaan natin upang maging masaya sila, upang makapag-imagine sila ng mas maganda ang kinabukasan compared sa kung ano lang yung nakikita nila doon sa mga isla nila,” Ortillo expressed.