Spreading Joy Through Books

By Yara Bou Abdo (Upper Primary Librarian)

This spring, the spirit of giving came alive at BHS through a meaningful initiative led by the Library team and a group of enthusiastic Grade 6 students. The Book Donation Drive, launched during the Easter season, was a timely reminder of the joy of sharing and the importance of literacy.
Over the course of a week, students and staff were invited to donate new or gently used books. Drop-off stations were set up across the school—from the Infant Section to the Upper School—with the main hub located in the Upper Primary library basement. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, twelve boxes of books were collected and carefully sorted by language and age group.
Grade 6 students played a vital role in this initiative. They actively encouraged their peers to donate, helped sort the books, and even took part in delivering them. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and their efforts truly made a difference.
On May 15, 30 Grade 6 students boarded a bus to Dar Al Awlad Orphanage, where they hand-delivered the collected books and spent a heartwarming day with the children. After reading their favourite stories together, the students and orphans bonded over games—basketball, tag, and lots of laughter.
What began as a quiet, shy exchange between strangers soon blossomed into joyful play and genuine friendship. The children interacted effortlessly, as if they had known each other for years. It was a powerful reminder that joy isn’t always bought, and that not everyone is as privileged—a lesson deeply felt by all those who took part.
This experience wasn’t just about donating books—it was about creating moments of connection, compassion, and community. Our students came back asking for more time and suggested returning in the future.
At BHS, giving back is a core value, and this initiative showed our students that there is always a reason to give. We are proud of the kindness and empathy they demonstrated and look forward to more opportunities to spread that same spirit.