TALICA took on this project with partner NGO Project Bona Fide.  TALICA saw an opportunity to help establish and support a community library within a building purchased by Project Bona Fide.  This has been our first collaborative project and as it stands today, we are pleased with the progress. 

Children's Collection and Reading Corner

Last summer TALICA helped secure over 1500 donated books from the Public Library of Alicante, Spain.  These books have become our initial collection. The collection was officially opened in December 2008 and just last month (June 2009) library volunteers started lending books. 

Local readers come visit during "Library Hours"

In a few short months, two local community members have stepped up to lead this new project.  They work along side International Volunteers from TALICA and Project Bona Fide .  As of today, the center offers a free Spanish literacy class for school age children and adults and an English class.  One powerful aspect is that volunteers from the center reach out to TALICA partnered schools to learn more about the local school curriculum.  We are striving to be an extension to the classroom, and welcome all teachers to come borrow books for teaching and reading aloud to students.

Left: Patricia Pillet, local volunteer from Alicante, Spain and now Balgue resident, leads a Spanish literacy class and English class. Right: Co-director, Roberto Mairena, reads along side visitors to the library.

As with any community based initiative, the community ultimately owns the project.  Just recently, we have helped establish a community center committee.   The current committee consists of 5 local members, 2 international long-term volunteers, and the co-director of Project Bona Fide. 
Last month, we discussed sustainability at length.  One very crucial initiative within this center is to create sustainable income to cover the basic costs of operating and maintenance; such activities as gardening, keeping the grounds neat and clean, removing all recycling and responsibly depose of other waste , as well as the cost of electricity and water consumption.  How to do this?  Local committee member and the center’s co-director, Roberto Mairena with others have conducted a verbal needs assessment.  This has shown that many long-term volunteers visiting the surrounding villages for various projects are requesting Spanish conversation and/or grammar classes.  As a result, Roberto is now leading the charge of establishing a Spanish Language Academy for foreign nationals and tourists who visit the island.  Students within this program will pay a program fee that will then be placed in a fund to pay fare wages to Spanish instructors and for the necessary costs mentioned previously. 

Children come to the center for many reasons! They now has space to read, visit, and learn from a variety of sources.

Currently discussions are being held among local teachers and Roberto to develop a working budget and implementation plan.  For sustainability to occur, we must continue to help facilitate and give advice when asked.  I am applauding the efforts of all involved with this project.  I am happy to see so much community desire with this huge project.  TALICA pledges continued responsible and consistent support.

Many Thanks!

June 2009