Robin Handleman discusses her experience as a supporter of English-language literacy in Asia and beyond.

By Julie Saetre

Robin Handleman started serving her community when she was seven. As a member of the Girl Scouts of the USA, a youth organization in the United States, she and her fellow members worked on service projects in a variety of areas. Now a member of the Kiwanis Club of Rockville in Maryland, U.S., Handleman carries her commitment to service into countries in Asia and beyond. 

It started with a connection she made during a Kiwanis conference. Handleman was serving as an elected official on her local board of education when a friend on the town council invited her to a Kiwanis club meeting. As a result of that meeting, Handleman joined the club and soon was elected club secretary. 

A teacher for more than 40 years — including experience as a reading teacher, a Home Hospital teacher and a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) — Handleman has taught and tutored students who learn in unique ways for the last 26 years. Her Kiwanis involvement led to her current mission: She has made several trips to Asia to teach ESL, establish English-language libraries and offer a variety of other services, including training teachers on how to make their lessons more fun and interactive.  

Handleman’s most recent trip was from January to June 2024, when she volunteered in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. She hosts Zoom meetings about her volunteer efforts and is busy raising funds to establish more English-language libraries in other countries.  

We asked Handleman a few questions to help share her experiences and to discuss what comes next. 

What was one of the highlights of this year’s trip to Asia?
This past March, I volunteered at the Kiwanis Children Centre, which is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Kuantan, Malaysia. It is a center for adults and children with varying abilities. That is the language I prefer, rather than children with special needs. I want to tell you what they can do instead of what they cannot do. 

The board of directors was thrilled with all the changes and improvements I made over the three weeks. To thank me for my volunteering efforts, they donated MYR2000 for my future volunteering projects. They hope other Kiwanis clubs will step up and donate as well. In their letter of recommendation to me, they stated: “To add a little wind to the wings of your volunteerism work, we would like to show our appreciation by paying forward MYR2000 for your future work. Thank you for being a conduit to deliver the contribution to where it’s needed most.” 

How did you become involved with service in Asia?
I went to a Kiwanis conference in Massachusetts. It was there that I met [the late] Binh Rybecki. She had received the Kiwanis Peace award. Her organization was Children of Peace International, or COPI. When she gave her acceptance speech, she said that she was always looking for teachers to be part of her humanitarian mission. The people at my table stood up, pointed to me and said that I was the teacher that she would want on her team. In 2006, I joined Binh on her mission in Vietnam. That was my first experience in Asia. 

Your first trip to Asia to teach ESL was in the fall of 2017. How did that opportunity come about?
I googled volunteer opportunities in Thailand. Why Thailand? I love Thai food! The Peace and Happiness Foundation came up, and I said to myself, “Who wouldn’t want to volunteer for a company named ‘Peace and Happiness Foundation?’” I saw they were looking for volunteers that were 25 to 40 years old. At the time I was 65, but I’ve always considered myself to be many years younger because of my enthusiasm and energy level. I did a WhatsApp video call with the head of the organization. She was impressed that I had 50 years of experience teaching English as a Second Language and teaching in general. She invited me to come volunteer.  

How did that experience go?
I was able to stay with one of the teachers in the school that I volunteered in. It was wonderful, because I was right in the village with the students, teachers and parents. I taught 27 first graders, and they were just too cute for words. I ended up staying there for two weeks. I was told I had an open invitation to come back whenever I wanted to because I was well received by the students and the school personnel. 

When did you decide to include establishing libraries as part of your ESL service?
From day one of volunteering in Asia, teaching English as a Second Language, the students loved the books I brought with me from America. I traveled with about 10 books. They especially enjoyed when I read to them. … They acted out the book by being the characters. Another activity they enjoyed was when I would bring brown lunch bags, and we would make puppets of the characters of the book. 

One of my advanced degrees is that of being a reading teacher. One morning I woke up, and the thought came to me about setting up libraries in the countries where I teach English. I asked my home club if I would have their support with this project. They said yes, and I knew I was on my way to having my dream come true. 

How many libraries have you set up?
I just completed the fifth library and eventually hope to set up three more. (I have volunteered in a total of 10 countries in Asia.) Presently there is one in Nepal, two in Sri Lanka, one in Malaysia, and the last one being in the Philippines. Many of the teachers follow me on Facebook. The number one question is, “Can we have more than one library in our country?” 

The reason why Sri Lanka was lucky to have two libraries was because the [head of the] shipping company that shipped the books from Maryland to Sri Lanka formerly lived in Sri Lanka. He was so excited that the children there were going to have this wonderful experience that he charged me a nominal fee for each box of books, so I was able to send double the amount of books, which then enabled me to set up two libraries. 

My intention is to complete three more libraries: in India, Pakistan and Cambodia.  

How has your Kiwanis family in Maryland supported your efforts?
None of these libraries could have happened if it wasn’t for the support I have from the Kiwanis clubs in Maryland and, most recently, one in Illinois. The first two libraries were supported by the Kiwanis Club of Westminster and the Kiwanis Club of Leisure World, Silver Spring, both in Maryland. My home club continues to pay for the shipping of the books from the port in Baltimore, Maryland, to Asia. The other Kiwanis clubs have made donations to my library for the last four years. This year, two more Maryland clubs joined to support my libraries: The Kiwanis Club of Wheaton-Silver Spring and the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda.   

In Indianapolis [Indiana, U.S.] I met a member from the Kiwanis Club of Kewanee, Illinois [U.S.]. We started chatting, and it was decided that I would do a Zoom meeting for her club. I was very pleased that they decided to make a donation toward my library in the Philippines. Thanks to technology, we connected, and the Kiwanis Club of Rosario la Union Managtulong, Philippines, was able to give the Kiwanis Club of Kewanee their certificate of appreciation on a Facebook Messenger video call. How awesome was that! 

I also have the support of friends and family, my Greater Federation of Women’s Club, and Books for International Goodwill, who continue to support my libraries as well.