BMA launches campaign to promote reading in Thai society

BANGKOK, March 10 (TNA) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched a campaign on promoting reading in Thai society. Chief of BMA’s Cultural, Sports and Tourism Department Manit Tej-Apichok presided over the launch of the public campaign at the Thai-Japanese Youth Center in the Thai capital Saturday. The event saw some 300 campaigners riding bicycles to distribute books of 108 different kinds to Thai youths aged below 18 years, who lack access to books. Starting at the Thai-Japanese Youth Center, the convoy of bicycles then travelled to four pilot communities on Ratchadaphisek and Phahonyothin Roads, covering a total distance of 10 kilometers. In each of the communities, they also held various activities for local youths, including book readings and picture drawings and paintings. The campaign came after Bangkok has been designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as the World Book Capital in 2013, sending a message to other clubs and organizations to join forces in promoting reading in Thai society. (TNA)