Community Play Library-Transform Children's Lives

This is our first quarterly report for the Community Play Library (“Ludoteca”) in Quibdó, in the department of Chocó in Colombia.  The project was developed by the Corporación Organización El Minuto de Dios.

In response to the $10,154 received from the campaign, less than the original goal, we adapted the project’s design, while securing support from two important partners.  The Community Play Library will operate in a school building, Colegio Santa Coloma, in Quibdó (see attached photos prior to any improvements).  The head of the school has committed to assign two teachers to lead the activities of the Ludoteca three afternoons per week, from 2-6pm.  They will be supported by volunteers (local parents), which should promote ownership of the initiative by the community.  We estimate that the program will have approximately 40 children, 5-12 years-old, attending.

Minera Cobre, a mining company that operates in the region, will fund renovations to the bathrooms at the school as well as the second-floor classrooms where the activities of the Community Play Library will take place.  It is estimated that these structural improvements will take 2 months.

Minuto de Dios will use the funds raised through GlobalGiving to equip the rooms (furniture, educational materials, computers and software, musical instruments, sports equipment, etc.) and provide training to the teachers and local volunteers and oversight of the program.

We look forward to informing you in the next quarterly report of the activities that have begun taking place at the Ludoteca.