The project aims to create two libraries for primary and secondary students in the region. The books will contribute to the intellectual development and autonomy of the students, said a teacher.
More than 12,000 books will be sent next week from Lisbon to Cape Verde, within the framework of a solidarity project that aims to support the creation of school libraries on the island of Saint Vincent.
Called “Reading is embracing the world”, the project promoted by Camões – Portuguese Language Center of Mindelo, the University of Cape Verde (UNI-CV) and the Delegation of Education, aims to create and improve school libraries in schools that hosted, in the current academic year, students of Pedagogical Practices in the 4th year of the Cape Verdean Portuguese Studies Course at the UNI-CV.
The project began with the fundraising for children’s and youth literature books in Portugal, in the village of Benedita, in the municipality of Alcobaça, district of Leiria, where UNI-CV professor and researcher, Inês Silva, is also responsible for Camões – Portuguese Language Center in Mindelo.
According to the Camões center, “given the need for students to carry out activities to promote books and reading in those same schools, and given the lack of libraries or children’s books,” an appeal was launched in February of this year on social networks “to donate books in good condition, as well as technical publications from different areas, intended for primary and secondary school students on the Island of S. Vicente.”
In about four weeks, the Benedita Community Center, the delivery location, “received an important collection, with a total of 12,600 books.”
In addition to local people and institutions (such as the Cooperativa Externato Benedita, the Benedita School Group, the Social and Parish Center, the Barafunda Association and the Universidad Mayor), “who collected and delivered hundreds of books,” the initiative expanded to the neighbors territories where fundraising campaigns were carried out in several school establishments in other municipalities, such as Caldas da Rainha, Azambuja, Abrigada, Manique do Intendente, Aveiras de Cima and Porto de Mós.
oh The initial goal would be to create two libraries. (at the Escola Básica de Monte Sossego and Escola Básica António Aurélio Gonçalves) and increase the literary collection of the library of the Escola Industrial e Comercial do Mindelo – Guilherme Dias Chantre.
However, “given the excellent results obtained, the final year students intend to create more libraries, together with the educational community, which has responded to successive calls on social networks to help with painting, furniture, among other necessary elements,” he claimed. says in a statement, Camões, Institute of Cooperation and Language.
The project had the support of the ETE Group, which guarantees the maritime transport of the donated books on the Lagoa ship, which will leave Portugal on the 19th towards S. Vicente, as well as companies that ensured the transport of Benedita’s books to S. João. da Talha and the Alenquer City Council, which transported the books of the Abrigada school group to S. João da Talha.
Quoted in the statement, Inês Silva, representing Camões – Centro de Língua Portuguesa de Mindelo, stated that “the participation of companies, initial training students, teachers, students, institutions and citizens of both countries reveals a Sense of unity and respect among people. and their communities, cultures and ways of life.”
“The solidarity action that was generated is proof of how we continue to see the promotion of books, reading and literature in the world, one of the pillars of the development of people, of their intellectual growth, autonomy, critical spirit and, consequently, freedom,” concluded the UNI-CV professor.
Source: Observadora
