Ready to #RiseForReading

There is a reading crisis, and the kids are gonna solve it. In response to the reading crisis, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) gathers the youth through READERS RISING! in an effort to consolidate and support efforts towards bridging the nation’s reading gap.Through a competitive hackathon—a two-day mentoring and pitching competition—the NBDB casts its net for the biggest and most innovative ideas from college and working youth aged 18-25. READERS RISING! aims to provide a plethora of opportunities for the kids’ ideas to take flight in larger capacities.

How Do We Rekindle A Love For Reading in Young Filipino Adults?

Since 2003, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) has studied the reading habits of Filipinos through the National Readership Survey (NRS). Two decades later, the survey focused on how often Filipinos read non-school books in the past 12 months. The survey defines “non-school books” as books that are read for personal enjoyment, study, or information and are not directly related to academic activities or school requirements. The results show that only 42% of Filipino adults aged 18 and above have read non-school books in 2023.Aside from the NBDB projects, various efforts are also being taken to promote reading through the initiatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations and such, most of these are focused on children and youth. Meanwhile, adults, being the key influences in building children’s daily habits and attitudes, seldom incorporate the habit of reading in their lives. Given this reality, how can the future generations motivate themselves to start reading?Therefore, an urgent call is essential for the improvement of the country’s reading culture–a call that affects the whole nation. The challenge now is to address the gaps specifically in adult readers by answering the question “How Do We Rekindle A Love For Reading in Young Filipino Adults?”

Who is eligible to join the hackathon?

University students and young professional in various fields (e.g. advocacy, policy, information technology, marketing, business, management, community development, social work, communication, social sciences, and humanities), ages 18-25 who are Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines can join.

Who can be team members?

A team can be composed of inter-college or inter-university students or young professionals, provided the eligibility requirements are met.All team members must be able to attend the face-to-face event happening in Metro Manila in July.

How can we apply for the hackathon?

Interested teams must submit:A one-page brief, containing:

  • Introduction;

  • Problem being addressed; and

  • Proposed solution.

The proposal must focus on the problem: “How do we rekindle a love for reading in young Filipino adults?”Additional submission requirements include:

  • Valid school ID for college students or government-issued ID with birth date for young professionals;

  • Passport or birth certificate to prove citizenship; and

  • Government-issued ID of the team leader, if college student.

A Google Form will be made available for submissions and will remain open until May 30, 2025. Participation is free of charge.

When will the list of accepted proposals be released?

Selected teams will receive confirmation letters via email by June 2025 and will be announced on NBDB’s social media accounts. All selected teams will be added to the READERS RISING! Academy group, where reminders, updates, and important details will be shared.

When will the READERS RISING! Hackathon for a Reading Nation take place?

The hackathon will take place from July 26-27, 2025.

What is the criteria for the proposals or presentations?

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:

1. Thematic Relevance (30%)

  • How well does the pitch address the identified problem?

  • Does it cater to the developmental needs of the target audience?

2. Innovation (30%)

  • Is the idea original, innovative, and creative?

  • Does it provide a novel approach to solving the problem?

  • Is the supporting research strong enough?

3. Feasibility and Sustainability (25%)

  • Can the project be realistically implemented?

  • Does it consider environmental, societal, and economic sustainability?

4. Presentation (15%)

  • Is the pitch clearly and effectively communicated?

Note: Please practice intellectual and academic honesty in your submissions. Additionally, the use of Generative AI in any form and capacity is categorically prohibited.