By Eliza Brennan | Program Officer, Education & Arts
Thanks to generous donors to ICF's Border Fund, two internationally recognized nonprofit organizations are developing an innovative education program that will offer much-needed educational programs to migrant children and adults in Tijuana, while also building bridges between these new residents and the local community.
Since July, program staff from IBBY and Fondo Unido Mexico (United Way Mexico) have been partnering to develop a new type of library that will benefit not only migrant families, but also the local residents of Tijuana. The goal of these libraries is to create spaces where migrants and their host community members can interact, learn about one another, and build mutual understanding.
After conducting a vigorous assessment of the local nonprofit partners and ideal locations in the city, the project leaders recently determined that Espacio Migrante (another wonderful, current ICF grantee) will be the host of the new library The library will have both a children's "toy-library" that builds critical real-world skills such as problem-solving, as well as adult books and reading/discussion programs. All of these programs will benefit both immigrant families and nearby local residents and serve as a unique, safe space for them to interact.
Espacio Migrante runs a community center and family shelter for migrants from diverse backgrounds, particularly Central Americans, Haitians and Africans.Given their central location in downtown Tijuana, where many local families spend evenings and weekends dining-out and strolling the pedestrian-friendly streets, we believe this will be a prime location to attract and inform local residents about the library. Additionally, Espacio Migrante and nearby partner, Enclave Caracol, already offer interesting cultural events such as movie-screenings and dance performances, as well as educational workshops which are open to the public and will complement these new library programs.
Now, the three primary project partners are working together to hire a new librarian/coordinator who will oversee the program and spaces. If this first pilot is a success, the partners plan to open other locatons throughout the city and multiply the effects, rebuilding the social cohesion of the community.
Ultimately, we believe these libraries will serve as a dynamic learning spaces and places to build understanding and mutual respect between people from diverse backgrounds, who are now neighbors with shared interests in living peacefully. Only then can everyone prosper.
Stay tuned for updates and this first library inauguration in late 2019!
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
