Noticias

Save the Children, through the Sponsorship Program, promoted the «My Community Reads» strategy, creating 43 Community Reading Clubs in 38 communities and 5 municipal libraries in the city of Cochabamba. These spaces are designed to foster a love for reading and strengthen the social and reading skills of girls and boys aged between 6 and 11 years old.
In the past three years, 7.393 girls and boys (3.900 girls and 3.493 boys) in vulnerable situations actively participated in the Community Reading Clubs, guided by 223 community promoters trained in participatory methodologies and alternative tools to promote the love for reading. Activities include verbal games, audio stories, and reflection techniques that allow participants to develop imagination, argumentation, oral expression, and critical thinking.
The impact of the Community Reading Clubs has been significant: according to the program’s final evaluation, 51% of girls and boys improved their reading and social skills, showing greater confidence in expressing ideas, building arguments, describing sequences of events with clarity, and articulating their feelings and emotions. 30% of children feel «very confident» when expressing their thoughts, and 21% feel «quite confident», reflecting an improvement in communication skills and self-assurance.
The success of the strategy lies in its community approach. Mothers, fathers, and caregivers have been actively involved in the process: 2.121 adults actively engaged in promoting reading at home and supported their children’s learning at the family level. This model allowed children not only to improve their reading skills but also to strengthen their capacity for analysis, dialogue, and coexistence, thus building a solid foundation for their personal and educational development.
The Community Reading Clubs are a clear example of how education, when participatory and relevant to the social and cultural context, can transform the skills and confidence of children, promoting a lasting impact on their lives.

Reading Clubs Testimony

“It’s an opportunity for the children in our neighborhood, because nowadays – generally speaking – members of the community don’t really like reading, we don’t have that enthusiasm for reading, but, now that we have the reading club, it helps us—well, the children love it. We’ve had many children in reading clubs, a lot of acceptance in our reading club, and it’s an opportunity for them to have a better future.” (Community Promoter)