Community Play Library-Transform Children's Lives

The activities at the Community Play Library in Quibdo, Department of Chocó, coordinated by Corporación Organización El Minuto de Dios (OMD), inaugurated in October, 2025, are expanding, benefiting approximately 200 youth living in the nearby community.

The components include:

Technology: 

The digital divide affecting marginalized youth is being addressed.  The computer equipment to complete academic tasks and explore and investigate areas of interest is in almost continuous use.

Culture:

In regions characterized by high levels of violence, culture contributes to construction of peace.   The instruments funded under the project are used in music classes and various organized musical activities.

 Artistic:

Artistic expression serves as a therapeutic tool to address the persistence of violence.  Students are using equipment and supplies for painting and other artistic endeavors.

 Sports, Recreation:

Physical activity promotes group integration, emotional discipline and strengthening of socioemotional abilities.  Despite the deteriorated state of the sports play area (cancha deportiva), structured recreational activities regularly take place.

Renovation of the cancha deportiva:

The technical analysis of the project is proceeding, which includes reviewing soil/land conditions, infrastructure requirements, logistical aspects of the works and finalizing the budget.  The project includes demolition and removal of the existing concrete slabs and the adjacent storage facilities, construction of a drainage system (critical due to the intense rains in the region), and the building of a newly paved play area.

OMD is in conversations with project partners to determine whether they will assume a portion of the project cost. 

We will share more details on the construction’s progress in our next progress report.

The renovation of the space designated for the “Ludoteca” (Community Play Library) at the Manuel Santa Coloma School, located in Commune 1 of Quibdó, was recently completed. The neighborhood around the “Ludoteca” is characterized by high levels of social vulnerability, exposure to violence, and the presence of illegal armed groups, making this intervention especially significant as a community-based strategy for social protection and prevention.

The work carried out included the complete renovation of two classrooms and restrooms, ensuring safe, functional, and dignified conditions for the children who will benefit from the center. This progress marks a milestone in the project, as it provides a fully operational physical space adapted to the program's pedagogical, recreational, and psychosocial requirements.

The official opening of the “Ludoteca” took place on October 29, 2025, with the active participation of students, teachers, families, and institutional partners. The space is fully equipped with technological, educational, artistic, sports, and cultural materials, as well as furniture, all carefully selected to guarantee a comprehensive learning and recreational experience. The “Ludoteca” offers resources that allow children to develop cognitive, creative, and social skills, foster teamwork and artistic expression, and promote healthy lifestyle habits through sports and physical activity. In addition, innovative tools and materials have been incorporated to facilitate access to educational and cultural content, ensuring that every child can use the space in a safe and enriching way, strengthening their development within a protective and stimulating environment. Furthermore, a cross-cutting psychosocial component will be implemented to strengthen life skills, promote positive school relationships, and encourage respectful parenting, actively involving families in the educational processes.

This achievement was made possible through inter-institutional collaboration and the generosity and hard work of various partners including:  GlobalGiving donors, Minera Cobre (a privately-owned mining company that operates in the region), Papeles Primavera (in-kind donation), and the Manuel Santa Coloma School, which contributed financial, material, and logistical resources. This synergy demonstrates a model of effective cooperation between the private sector, international donors, and the local educational community, having a direct impact on improving learning conditions and children's well-being. In terms of sustainability, the playroom will be managed by the school, with technical and pedagogical support from the Corporación El Minuto de Dios, ensuring the continuity of activities and community ownership of the space.