emily moberly traveling stories

Emily Moberly fell in love with reading almost before she fell in love with anything else.

“I think it was the way books took me places,” says the 26-year-old Banker’s Hill resident. “And—not to sound too cheesy—the way they put the whole world in the palm of my hand. Through reading I had great adventures and met extraordinary people. I explored the jungles of India, took my first trip to Africa, faced danger and solved mysteries.”

With a goal to outsmart poverty one book at a time, Moberly started Traveling Stories in 2010. The nonprofit organization provides books to communities that have none and offers free literacy coaching to struggling readers in San Diego.    

The concept came to her after graduating from college when she moved to Honduras to teach high school English.

“This was the first time in my life that I lived in a place with almost no access to reading material. I realized how much I need books and I saw how the lack of books was impacting my students,” Moberly says. “I decided that as their English teacher I would do all I could to make them fall in love with reading. So, for Christmas I went home and when I returned to Honduras I brought with me 40 books which I introduced to my students as ‘Ms. Moberly’s Library.’”

The books were a hit. All of her classes used them daily. Even other teachers asked to use the books for their classes. Since then, Moberly’s organization has opened libraries in Nicaragua, El Salvador and South Sudan. Traveling Stories is currently fundraising to offset the cost of shipping books this April to establish four libraries in the Philippines.

“This isn’t just a charity that gives free books to people. We want it to be a way to share cultures. To connect kids all over the world as they express their ideas about books and reading,” says Moberly. Her hopes are high for Traveling Stories.     

She reminds us that “we can only accomplish so much by ourselves. Like the African Proverb says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’”

To learn more or get involved, visit TravelingStories.com.


------------------------
Claire Yezbak Fadden is an award-winning freelance writer and mother of three sons. Follow her on Twitter @claireflaire.

Published: February 2013

Meet Elizabeth Howe, Record-Holding Archer from Lakeside

Meet Elizabeth Howe, Record-Holding Archer from Lakeside

  Elizabeth Howe, a 10th grader from Lakeside, holds every California state archery record for her age group and is on the USA Archery regional team. She trains at LionHeart Academy in El Cajon. . . .

Read more

Local Families Enjoy Summer Activities in San Diego

Local Families Enjoy Summer Activities in San Diego

It’s been fabulous to see local families out having fun together in San Diego! We had a great response to our request for family photos, but could only fit six into the August issue, so here’s whe . . .

Read more

San Diego Teen Beats Cancer

San Diego Teen Beats Cancer

For 14-year old cancer survivor and San Diego resident Kasey Harvey, losing was simply not an option. As a competitive soccer goalkeeper, known for fearlessly hurtling her body in front of oncoming . . .

Read more

Meet San Diego Teens Making the World a Better Place

Meet San Diego Teens Making the World a Better Place

Never underestimate the power of inspired teens because they have the potential to change the world. Teens have been responsible for developing some of the most creative inventions of today, and San D . . .

Read more

Meet MasterChef Junior Winner, Nathan Odom, San Diego’s Famous Teen Chef

Meet MasterChef Junior Winner, Nathan Odom, San Diego’s Famous Teen Chef

If you’re not familiar with the reality television show “MasterChef,” then you are missing out on mouth-watering dishes, intense cooking challenges and high stakes competition. Now take that c . . .

Read more

Meet Food Network Star Chef Marcela

Meet Food Network Star Chef Marcela

San Diego is lucky to have Food Network Star, Chef Marcela living in our own backyard. If you’ve watched episodes of the Food Network show “Mexican Made Easy,” then you’re used to surprise . . .

Read more

Be Family Informed – Sign up for our Newsletters below!

Subscribe