Office of the Vice President Launches “Free Library” to Encourage Reading among Low Income Children

Santo Domingo, April 8, 2019 – The Office of the Vice President, through its campaign on strengthening values among young children and teenagers known as “Good for You,” along with the Children and Youth Library (BIJRD) and the support of the Surfers’ Association of Boca Chica, recently launched a new project called “Free Library.” The project hopes to encourage reading and the exchange of books among low-income children and youth as a way of encouraging reading habits among a population that has very little access to education.
The initiative – launched by the country’s Vice President, Dr. Margarita Cedeño – began in the beachfront community of La Boya, in Boca Chica, situated some 30 minutes east of Santo Domingo. Through the program community boys and girls will be able to have access, free of charge, to children’s literature through the use of a community mail box that will provide them with books that will contribute to their development and open the doors to a more promising future.
The mail box is located in the Surf Club La Boya, where individuals may bring their book donations so that the local children and teenagers who practice this particular sport can use and exchange the books available.
During the opening of the Free Library, the Director of the Children and Youth Library, Dulce Elvira de los Santos, read a children’s book to some 20 local children and teenagers. The writer of children’s books, Yuan Fuei Liao, donated several of his original works. Other books were also donated to formally open the program.
At the same time, Renne Gough, president of the Surfers Association of Boca Chia, stated that by bringing in the children to the club they will be encouraged to become involved in the sport and thus keep them away from drugs and crime. The goal is to encourage friendship, responsibility, honesty, discipline, the protection of the environment and learn healthy eating habits.
He also stated that surfing is, for the kids in the La Boya community, a possible profession that could open doors to their financial well-being.