Noticias

In southern Cochabamba, the Community Reading Clubs began as part of the Mi Comunidad Lee strategy (meaning “My Community Reads”), promoted by Save the Children’s Sponsorship Programme to strengthen children’s enjoyment of reading, reading comprehension and social skills. Over the years, the initiative took a decisive step forward: from an approach supported by the programme to a model increasingly managed by the community itself.

Community facilitators, families and local grassroots organisations, known as Organizaciones Territoriales de Base (OTBs), progressively strengthened their capacity to organise the clubs, mobilise resources, coordinate with authorities and maintain safe spaces where children can participate. This ownership has enabled the clubs to gain local recognition as a valuable service for development and learning, with progress towards their inclusion in municipal planning.

The creation of the SoñaLibros Association marks a new stage in this process. Established by the communities themselves, it brings the clubs together and strengthens their collective capacity to build partnerships, share learning and plan for sustainability. SoñaLibros seeks to sustain more than an activity: it aims to maintain a form of community organisation centred on reading and children’s rights.

The experience shows that sustainability does not begin when a project ends. It is built from the outset by transferring skills, developing local leadership and creating conditions for communities to make decisions about the initiatives they value. Through this transition, SoñaLibros offers a practical pathway for a community education initiative to become established, expand and engage with public policy.