A visit to Doulos Hope: an international floating bookfair

International floating book fair, Doulos Hope, visited Philippine shores earlier this year. It docked in 4 ports: Subic, San Fernando, Manila, and Batangas city. Bringing knowledge, multicultural awareness, and help to communities, Doulos hope gives a great opportunity for people of all ages to have a glimpse at the diverse cultures of the world, while sifting through quality and affordable literature.

I visited Doulos hope during its sojourn in Manila bay last April 9, and it was a memorable experience. Being surrounded by books, people of different ethnicities, and the relaxing view of Manila bay was a rejuvenating scene. It was the perfect day off for me. I'll be sharing more of my experience but first, let's know more about Doulos hope.

The noble voyage of Doulos hope

Doulos hope is one of the two ships operated by faith-based organization, Operation Mobilization (OM) and German charity, Gute Bucher fur alle (Good books for all). The ship's mission is to bring humanitarian aid to different ports of call in the forms of knowledge, help, and hope.

Doulos means servant in Greek. Thus, the ship is named to be a servant of hope. The ship entered service just a year ago and since then, it has been to 9 ports in South east Asia. This includes ports in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Since then, it has welcomed a total of 119, 176 visitors and sold 146, 511 books.

The book fair is its main attraction but the organization is also involved in various community services like giving prescription glasses, water filters, and hosting culture and worship shows. At present, it is on its way to Hong Kong after finishing its stay in Batangas city last April 29.

The Doulos hope book fair

Entry into the ship's book fair starts by booking a visit through their website. After securing a slot, a P50 fee is paid at the port's entrance.

Onboard, visitors are cordially greeted by the ship's multinational crew ranging from Africans, Mexicans, Koreans, Indians, and even Filipinos. Seeing different people from different countries work together happily and in harmony was inspiring. The scene reminded me of the United nation's vision.

As diverse as the crew members were, the books selection was also varied. There were books on self-help, lifestyle, history, science, religion, and the classics. There were also books for children ranging from story books to reference books.

Besides literature, there are also stationaries and souvenirs. There are laces, hats, journals, and stickers. The prices of the merchandise are calculated through a metric of units.

In Philippine peso, 100 units converts to P120. Most books are priced at 200 to 300 units, meaning the average book price is P250.

Once done with the book fair, visitors can lounge in the ship's cafe. Coffees, sodas, popcorns, and some pastries are served here in moderate prices. There are tables and chairs to dine in at the ship's deck. As such, I spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying Manila bay view while sipping a good cup of coffee.

Other services of Doulos hope

Aside from the book fair, a ship tour is offered by the Doulos hope team. The fee is P400 for 5 people. They also do charity services such as donating water filters which they did during their visit in Subic. The team organizes cultural exchange as well. They organize talent shows in every ports they visit.

Photo courtesy: Doulos hope's Instagram

The ship welcomes volunteers who are willing to serve the organization's purposes. Typical commitments ranges from 6 months to 2 years. Those interested can connect with them through their website:

https://www.gbaships.org/en/douloshope.

Accomplishing great goals require great support. Doulos hope accepts donation either in cash or through in-kind supplies. Further donation details can also be found on their website.

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Conclusion

Indeed, Doulos hope is a ship that harbors knowledge, help, and hope to the ports that it visits. It is a beacon of altruism and compassion; a vessel that that brings positive change to people through literature and service.

As the ship continue its mission, it is my hope that it brings more inclusion and cultural tolerance to the world. I know that we need these things more than ever, and I'm glad to see that there are organizations like Doulos hope working to make it a reality.