Valuable assets to children's learning are unavailable in Cusco, where there are no public libraries and therefore no free learning resources. 'La Pagina en la Puerta' library provides the local community's children with these otherwise unaccessible resources, in order to expose them to the joys of reading and help them improve their literacy skills. The longtime goal is to better the children's future prospects by improving their literary abilities, their confidence in reading and self-esteem.
Without any public libraries, access to children's books and resources in Cusco, Peru is constrained to bookstands at local markets, from which the books are often pirated, low quality, abridged versions of full texts. In Peru, the literacy level remains at only 82%, and many Peruvians experience impoverishment alongside illiteracy. Reading from a young age betters chances of achieving high literacy levels, meanwhile improving confidence and self-esteem, and eventually overcoming disadvantage.
La Pagina en la Puerta is trying to improve accessibility by offering children a chance to read books they enjoy and benefit from, for free. Local children are invited to choose their own books, play learning games and do homework here in a safe, encouraging environment. The project aims to increase self-esteem and confidence through critical thinking and creativity developed from better access to learning materials, this goes hand in hand with literacy and academic improvements.
The goal is to enable the children who pass through to achieve literacy levels they otherwise would not reach, as a result, they have more chance at overcoming their disadvantages. As well as educational development, the library works to inspire children to discover the joys of reading, opening their lives to new passions and interests. Averaging 20 children per day, the library hopes to have a lasting impact on its visiting children, bettering both their, and their families', future prospects.
