Explore how Yoshimi Horiuchi turned her vision loss into a vision for literacy—building a Thai foundation that delivers books and hope to children.
From a little girl in Japan known as ‘bookworm’ by her teachers and peers, to the head of a literacy foundation and non-profit organization in Thailand, Yoshimi Horiuchi has come a long way. And her journey is still far from finished – she’s still striving to help young people gain access to the inspiring and engaging reading materials they need.
This is the story of Yoshimi and her Bookworm Foundation – the story of a young woman who fell in love with a people, a language, and a culture, and who has devoted her life to supporting literacy on a nationwide level.
Introducing Yoshimi Horiuchi
Yoshimi Horiuchi was born in 1983 and grew up in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture. Struggling with severe vision problems from an early age, Yoshimi quickly understood that she faced very different challenges from many of her peers, but this did not deter her love for literature.
Before she’d finished school, the young Yoshimi had lost her sight completely, but she would not be defeated.
Mastering braille and supported by her teachers at specialized schools for the blind in Japan, she developed a reputation as a voracious reader, even gaining the nickname “bookworm.”
A high school exchange trip to the USA led to a life-changing friendship with a Thai student on the program. Spurred on by her new companion, Yoshimi immersed herself in Thai culture and went on to study the language at university. While working as a Thai translator in Japan, Yoshimi began to foster a new dream—one that would take her to Thailand permanently.
The Always Reading Caravan and the Bookworm Foundation
In 2010, still only in her 20s, Yoshimi relocated to Thailand. There, she made it her mission to increase access to books for young people right across the country. Yoshimi herself had struggled to access reading materials due to her vision problems, but she had gained the support and assistance she needed – now, she was offering support and assistance of her own.
To make this happen, she founded the Always Reading Caravan, or ARC. Travelling around Thailand, originally by herself, Yoshimi distributed books to local communities, and word quickly spread about the remarkable woman on a literary mission.
Within a year, Yoshimi had expanded her project, using vehicles to deliver more books to more people, even in the most remote areas of Thailand.
By 2014, she had registered the ARC as a non-profit in Thailand, and four years later, she established the Bookworm Foundation – a charitable organization that fosters literacy and reading among young people who may not otherwise have access.
A Growing Foundation
In the last decade, the Bookworm Foundation has expanded, connecting more and more young people with the joys of reading. Driven by Yoshimi’s passion, the Foundation now supports community libraries in locations such as Phrao in Chiang Mai Province and U Thong in Suphan Buri Province. This is in addition to the Foundation’s “book corners” – community reading nooks that inspire creativity and imagination wherever they are placed.
Libraries — both of the static and the mobile variety — are just part of the Foundation’s work. Noon Noon Books is the Foundation’s small publishing arm, providing publications in braille, large print, and various sensory mediums. This is part of Yoshimi’s commitment to helping all children gain access to a wide range of reading materials, no matter their ability level – just as she was able to foster her own love of reading while growing up.
Reading and education centres, outreach programs and home visits, craft workshops, and literacy circles – these are just a few of the other activities that the Foundation is involved in. Yoshimi’s early years may have been difficult, and she certainly still encounters challenges, but she has maintained an inspiring positivity and zest for life. What’s more, she’s turned this drive and passion into something actively beneficial and truly impactful for young people and communities across her adopted country.
Supporting Yoshimi and the Bookworm Foundation
Yoshimi and her team have already achieved so much with the Always Reading Caravan and the Bookworm Foundation. Now, 15 years after launching the ARC, Yoshimi has taken her childhood nickname and turned it into a beacon for literacy, creativity, and good old-fashioned fun.
But let’s not forget this is a non-profit foundation. They can’t make such a difference in the community without donations and support. If you live in Thailand, you can volunteer to work with the Foundation through the Foundation’s Support Page.
If you don’t live in Thailand, you can still support the cause through a monetary donation or book donation. Every contribution helps Yoshimi and her team as they expand their reach, touching the lives of more and more young people across Thailand.
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John Burns
John has been writing ever since he was small, and is delighted to be able to make his living as a writer now he’s not quite so small. Literature has always been a big part of John’s life, and he loves sharing this passion with readers from all over the world.
