In a migrant-populated community in Huining County, Gansu Province, there is a vibrant and colourful space known as the Rainbow Library.

Huining County, located in Baiyin City of Gansu Province, is a key destination for rural migrant workers. Within one of its densely populated migrant communities, a vibrant and colourful space known as the “Rainbow Library” has become a beacon of hope.

Originally an empty house, the library was established in 2020 by the Rainbow Volunteer Club with support from Oxfam Hong Kong. In the beginning, only a few children visited, and only after being invited by staff. But as more activities and services were introduced, children began to treat the space as a second home. Parents noticed the positive changes and recommended to other parents, gradually deepening the library’s connection with the entire community and fostering a child-friendly atmosphere.

Diverse Activities for Children

Since its founding, the Rainbow Library has offered a wide range of services for migrant children: book lending, homework support, interest classes, field trips, family support, and online reading sessions. For many migrant children, who often lack books and a reading environment at home, the library provides vital access. As the book collection grew, more children visited after school or borrowed books and read at home. During the pandemic, the library organised online picture book reading sessions to ensure continued access to reading.

Engaging Families, Schools, and the Community

Though many migrant parents are busy with work, the library promotes family involvement in child development through parent-child activities, educational talks, home visits, and volunteer opportunities. It also works with local schools to raise awareness and improve support for migrant children.

The Rainbow Library has become a shared space in Huining County’s migrant community, where children, adults, teachers, and other stakeholders gather to relax or join in activities.
 

The library advocates for broader changes through community outreach and engagement with local authorities, including visits from the Huining County Education Bureau. Beyond the local community, the Rainbow Library has even hosted renowned Chinese author Rao Xueman for an event, which helped raise public awareness and encouraged book donations.

From an empty room to a thriving hub of growth, may more libraries like the Rainbow Library emerge in communities where they are needed, bringing colour to the lives of migrant children and those around them, while fostering interaction and inclusion among families, schools, communities, and society at large.