Help prevent violence against kids in Montevideo

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention of Children's Rights. In order to commemorate the rights to Education, Play and Recreation, the "Flor de Maroñas" Youth Center decided to create a reading room, accompanied by the America Solidaria volunteers. The project, called "Reading Room in Bloom" reminds us how young minds can flourish when they have access to spaces to develop their interests.

The Youth Center has been in the community for 16 years and involves young people between ages 12 and 18 who come from the Flor de Maroñas neighborhood and from the informal settlements in the area. It is worth mentioning that most youth participantes live in impoverished contexts, and some face significant barriers to access the public education system. Given that the infantilization of poverty is one of the most important problems of the F Municipality, supporting Youth Centers in this territory is a priority.

The renewal of the reading room used community-based design, taking into account the opinions of the teens and the adult staff of the Youth Center. Both groups remarked on the lack of reading habits, scarce access to or possession of books, low literacy of their relatives and little knowledge of libraries. However, everyone showed great interest in creating a space that allows them to learn, recreate and develop their interests. Some of the young people's suggestions were:

• I want there to be more library books and to have a space to draw.
• I want board games.
• I want a space with more color and music.
• Apart from books, I'd like to have DVDs and to be able to play games.
• I want them to take everything out, paint color and put furniture with separate books such as biographies, comics, and drawing.
• We would like books from different genres, such as horror, suspense, mystery or "Choose your own adventure".

This proposal was presented to the KPMG Uruguay accounting firm, whose Social Responsibilty fund financed the renovation and collected donations of books and materials. Volunteers from the KPMG staff alongside teens and Youth Center staff transformed the space over two weeks.

The final result is a welcoming space where teens can read, draw, create and relax. Thank you for lending your support so that young folks in the area can continue to bloom.