Mobile Bilingual library

The central point of this project is bilingual literacy, with focus on the English language as a tool to create dialogue among the people of Jardin and its visitors. The anchor point of the project is tied to a traveling bilingual community wagon, which will be officially named by the very own community as the project develops. The wagon will create and promote common peaceful spaces centered on bringing diverse sectors of the community together with the goal of exchanging knowledge and stories. This wagon will become a tool to foster intercultural exchanges through the empowerment of the community members across diverse sectors of Jardín. For example, the resources available in the wagon will be selected and curated by the community after identifying and analyzing the particular needs of Jardín. As the wagon travels across the rural and urban territories of the town, the contents and resources will vary and adapt according to the needs of each of the community’s sectors. From the educational needs of Jardín’s students and the business community to the tourism industry, the wagon will be an accessible resource for all. In partnership with Parque Educativo Margarita Pelaez (a public institution created to provide educational programs to the community), the wagon will become an ongoing source of enrichment for Jardín. As this proposal is submitted, ongoing conversations with the Parque Educativo are happening.
Community Overview

After fifty years of civil war, Colombia has been going through a transitional stage where new realities and possibilities have aroused as a result of the 2016 peace agreement with the guerilla of las FARC.New opportunities for economic development, expansion of tourism, and social change have spread across Colombia. With such rapid shifts, new issues have risen to the surface. Substance abuse, gang violence, tourism gentrification, and delayed reparations for forcefully displaced people have created a range of distinct realities that are oftentimes unknown for members of similar communities. As such, the necessity for alternatives that contribute to the peacebuilding process in my country become of utmost relevance.

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