In a city where structured after-school activities are scarce, parents emphasised the importance of the safe, joyful, and education-focused environment provided by Charmaghz’s mobile libraries. This finding was amongst the key takeaways from a survey conducted by Charmaghz with parents of the young children who regularly visit its mobile libraries in Kabul. The first survey was aimed at better understanding of how families perceive the impact of services provided by the Mobile Library program on their children’s lives. 

Parents reported a noticeable increase in their children’s interest in reading. Many said that their sons and daughters come home eager to recount the stories they’ve read and the new ideas they’ve discovered during their time at the library.

Parents also noted that their children’s manners and personal hygiene improved — such as brushing their teeth regularly — thanks to the positive influence of the librarians. Parents also noted that children enjoy the variety of interactive activities, including games, arts and crafts, and other forms of creative expression.

Perhaps the most telling feedback by parents was that their children eagerly await the day each week when the mobile library arrives in their neighbourhood  –  a sign of the demand for Charmaghz’s programs among the girls and boys who come to read, learn, and grow.